by CPO2 Mackenzie Nolan – The Navy League of Canada – Ontario Division Sea Cadet of the Year (2022), and the Royal Canadian Legion “Sea Cadet” of the Year (2022)
MY YEARS IN the Sea Cadet Program have been some of the best years of my life. They have been filled with fun memories with people who will forever have an impact on my life. I joined the Royal Canadian Sea Cadet Corps-139 Illustrious, as soon as I could, the first weekend after I turned twelve. A shy, quiet, Grade 6 French Immersion Student, I didn’t know exactly what I wanted to do with my life and I certainly did not have enough confidence in myself to advocate for the things I did want. I didn’t know what the program would entail, but I now know that the Cadet Program would push me past my limits and help me become the person I am today.
My first experiences with volunteering included assisting my parents with fundraising activities like food sales and setting up the school fair at my elementary school, ensuring everyone who attended the school had access to fun activities and events. My assistance included helping with set-up and tear down, running er- rands, and general manual labour. I also helped out while my grandparents ran the breakfast program to ensure the children at my school started the day with good nutri- tion or helped as they ran teachings to introduce our Indigenous culture to the community.
As a Member of Missanabie Cree First Nation, I recognized early on the importance of community, and being a Cadet has helped me become more involved in my local community and forge a connection with my fellow Cadets. During my time in the Cadet Program, I became committed to raising awareness/ fundraising for Veterans, youth leadership, physical fitness and inclusion, diversity, and equity.
Each year, our Cadet Corps assists two local Royal Canadian Legions with their Poppy Campaigns. It is expected that each Cadet volunteers to cover at least two shifts distributing poppies each year. After my first year, I remember I made a goal for myself to attend each Poppy shift leading up to Remembrance Day. I am proud that I have accomplished my goal to volunteer for as many shifts as possible year after year. Through my volunteering as a Cadet, I made connections and started volunteering with my local Legion working on event promotions like the Annual Veterans Run, dinners, and social media work.
With the onset of the Covid-19 Pandemic, I had to come up with new ways to continue my volunteering. For safety reasons, Cadets had to stand down and we couldn’t participate in our annual 24-hour Remembrance Day Vigil or help the Legion with their Poppy Campaigns. I decided to try my own fundraiser where I committed to walking 75 kilometres (over 100,000 Steps) in 24 hours with my father to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the end of WW2. We trained for months beforehand and I started my Remembrance Day Walk on November 10 and finished on November 11, raising over $3600 for the Royal Canadian Legion – #15 Brampton Branch.
I started to volunteer with the City of Brampton’s Social Support Task Force during the Pandemic as well, assisting with emergency foodbank deliveries and working 2-3 shifts weekly to repackage bulk foods for food insecurity programs in cooperation with Global Medic. I don’t believe I would have had the confidence to become as involved in my community as I am without the experience I gained at RCSCC #139 Illustrious. I was honoured to be chosen as the City of Brampton’s Youth Citizen of the Year for 2020. It was important to me that I wear my Cadet uniform when getting pictures taken for my banner that was displayed in downtown Brampton.
The Officers in my Program helped me to grow and look at things from various perspectives. With their guidance, I took opportunities that I might not have tried before like signing up for the Standing Bear Youth Leadership Program where I attended leadership workshops that taught me an Indigenous, holistic approach to community development.
Having so many opportunities to become more involved within the Cadet community, with the local Legions and with the City of Brampton, has helped me to understand the importance of community service. I hope to increase awareness among our younger generations so more youth know of the sacrifices made by Veterans. I enjoy working at Cadet training for spring break and summer camps to pass down the knowledge I have gained to the younger generations of Cadets.
My time in the Cadet Program has proven that I can make a difference when I work with others making true connections with those in my community, many of who are now like my extended family. Joining Cadets was one of the best things I could have done in my life. I had no clue that it would have such a lasting impact on me. I am now a young woman who has found her voice, who is active in her community, is leading a healthy and happy life, and has more self-confidence than ever before. With time left in the Sea Cadet program I only hope I can make the same impression on cadets as those have made on me.