A new, bilingual army cadet corps intended for young people aged 12 to 18 in the Haut Saint-Laurent should begin activities soon in Huntingdon.
The driving force behind this project has been Lieutenant Pierre Lefebvre, well known in the region for having established the CCMRC 329 Marine Corps Cadets and the CCLN 182 Ligue navale in Valleyfield.
Originally from Huntingdon, Lefebvre was committed to this project in particular because of the region’s military history marked by the Battle of Chateauguay and the Fenian Raids during the 1860s; also because his great-great grandfather, Jean-Baptiste Lefebvre, served with the Huntingdon Borderers Regiment which defended the country during that time.
Support of the community
The new cadet corps activities have received support from the Haut Saint-Laurent community, in particular from elected official in the area including Huntingdon and Ormstown, the Canadian Légion in Huntingdon as local sponsor, MPs Anne Quach and Stéphane Billette and the Vallée-des-Tisserands and New Frontiers school boards.
École secondaire Arthur-Pigeon would provide the premises for the new cadet corps activities Saturday mornings. « We’re in great shape with these premises, » proclaimed Lefebvre.
Huntingdon Mayor, André Brunette, welcomes this project particularly as Huntingdon has had cadets in the past. « There seems to be a new interest among youth for this kind of activity which creates a sense of belonging and a spirit of initiative, » he stated.
The Canadian Armed Forces provides a budget of around $50 000 to establish a project like this, to which is added an annual working budget.
A variety of activities
The overall mission of the organization is to promote values of good health and citizenship among its members through physical and intellectual activities, social involvement, development of leadership skills and a spirit of camaraderie.
The activities being offered, free of charge, by this cadet corps to youth in the region include regular military type activities as well as rock climbing, biathlon and eventually brass band and bagpipes. The cadet corps expects to collaborate with the Elgin & District Pipes and Drums.
Upcoming registration is expected as soon as the organisation will have all the autorisations required . Anyone interested can contact Pierre Lefebvre at 450-371-4796.
