CALEB NICKERSON
RENFREW Oct. 2, 2019
Parents looking for exciting extracurricular activities for their children should look no further than the . . .
653 Champlain Air Cadet Squadron, according to commanding officer Cpt. Brian Graham.
He said that though their programming runs concurrent with the school year, they will be accepting new recruits for most of the year. The squadron, which is based in Renfrew, currently has just over 30 cadets and Graham said that every year nearly a third come from the Quebec side of the river.
Registration is free and open to youth 12 and up, and takes place at 164 Argyle Street South on Tuesday evenings from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. Graham said to bring a birth certificate and a health card.
He added that the group had recently been gifted an Ultralight aircraft by a generous donation from the family of the late Gerald Fawcett, a former commanding officer with 653 and a pillar of the local flying community. The cadets will get some hands-on experience restoring and maintaining the aircraft, which is in need of a rebuild.
He also spoke about the cadet training program during the summer, which offers participants the chance to log some hours in gliders and other aircraft, which is a huge asset for those pursuing a career in the skies.
“One of the biggest things you can get out of the air cadet program is your glider pilot’s license and your powered pilot’s license, and that’s done through summer training,” Graham said, adding that they also offer courses on outdoor survival, leadership and other topics outside of flying.
