In recognition of the National Day of Truth and Reconciliation, also known as Orange Shirt Day, cadets and staff may choose to wear an Orange Shirt with civilian (comfortable sports cloths) during Sept 30 Training Night.

National Day for Truth and Reconciliation takes place each year on September 30 and honours the survivors of residential schools and the children who never returned home, their families, and communities. This day is dedicated to recognizing the resilience of Indigenous communities and committing to a future of understanding, healing, and unity.

Orange Shirt Day is an Indigenous-led grassroots commemorative day intended to raise awareness of the individual, family and community inter-generational impacts of residential schools, and to promote the concept of “Every Child Matters”. The orange t-shirt is a symbol of the stripping away of culture, freedom and self-esteem experienced by Indigenous children over generations.

In Ontario, the Cadet Program takes pride in maintaining our strong ties to local Indigenous communities through our cadet corps/squadrons. Cadets have opportunities to learn about traditional Indigenous knowledge and cultivate meaningful relationships with local Indigenous communities, fostering a spirit of reconciliation.

It behooves all Canadians to learn about the history of Indigenous Peoples in Canada, and reconciliation requires each of us to do our part to educate ourselves, understand the pain, and work in partnership on the path forward. On Tuesday, let’s all take a moment to reflect on the ongoing impacts the residential schools, and commit to fostering an inclusive environment within the Cadet Program that removes barriers and cherishes their strong ties with the land and our communities.

Visit the resources by Canadian Heritage to learn more about the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. https://www.canada.ca/en/canadian-heritage/campaigns/national-day-truth-reconciliation.html

 Cadets can also bring in uniform parts (clean, washed please) for exchange in size if they have been outgrown.

We will be working over the next few weeks to complete uniform exchanges for existing cadets and will then move to sizing and ordering of uniforms for new cadets. New cadet uniforms are ordered and issued when they arrive – please note this can take several weeks to months depending on demand, the item and size.  We thank you in advance for your patience.