July 14, 2024 – Borden, Ont. – When people share their memories of the Blackdown Cadet Training Centre (CTC), the summer of 1994, the year it first opened, they talk of many things. Mod tents that housed large numbers, sleeping on dirt floors waiting for palettes to be put down, very few buildings and amenities, hardship, hard work, friendships, and everlasting good memories.
“I was there for my first time in ’94,” said Louise Gilbert in response to a social media post from the CTC about sharing memories of that first year.
“I just remember all the fun we had, “she said. “I couldn’t wait to come back the following year.”
Gilbert was a cadet from 2407 Royal Canadian Army Cadet Corps (RCACC) in Blind River, Ont. She currently resides in Elliot Lake, Ont.
“I remember my first year there in 1994,” David Lima said on the same post. “We didn’t even have cots or floorboards for the first three days. I slept in my sleeping bag in the dirt. Good times!”
Lima was from 676 Lorne Scots out of Georgetown, taking the Basic, currently known as General Training, Course. Later on in 2000, he became the Regimental Sergeant Major for Blackdown CTC.
Over the 30 years, many people’s lives have been affected by being a cadet/staff cadet or staff at Blackdown.
Some of the staff attending the CTC this year were course cadets in 1994
Captain Shannon Pecore was an Ops Duty Officer at Blackdown this summer.
“In 1994 I was a course cadet in CL (Cadet Leader) in Echo Company. It was a 6-week course,” she said.
“I still remember all the tents, there were very few actual buildings,” she said. “We showered in trailers and slept in Mod tents on cots.”
She also talked about how the mess hall and cadet canteen were also mod tents, how they had to do their grad parade on the main base because there was no parade square and that the male and female lines were on opposite sides of the CTC.
“Our company had cool pink watermelon-coloured shirts,” Pecore said. “The friends I made that summer I still stay in touch with today.”
Blackdown CTC was born after the closure of the Ipperwash Army Cadet Camp in 1993. The Blackdown Cadet Training Centre opened in the summer of 1994. It was still an army cadet camp, then, in 2003, tri-force courses arrived at the training centre. Since then it has become the largest Cadet Training Centre in Canada.
From then to now, buildings have been added, a solid structure mess hall, classrooms, amenity buildings, and approximately 850 more durable canvas tents on cement pads.
Though there was a slowdown in activities in recent years due to the COVID pandemic, the CTC has quickly bounced back and is now seeing large numbers of cadets on the grounds for summer training.
The music programs have returned after a five-year hiatus, and the camp is once again bustling with course cadet activity.
“Since its inception in 1994, the Blackdown Cadet Training Centre has stood as a pillar of youth development in Ontario, offering transformative experiences not only during the summer months but year-round,” said current Commanding Officer Lieutenant-Colonel Dave Forster, CD. “As we celebrate its 30th anniversary this year, it’s essential to reflect on the journey that brought us here and the significant impact it has had on countless young lives.”
The training centre has affected thousands of young people throughout its existence.
“I was a cadet with 202 Fort Malden Windsor Regiment RCACC for six years,” said Morgan Ella. “During my time as a cadet, I attended Blackdown CTC four times.”
She started as a course cadet in 2015 taking the general training course, and expedition course, and ended as a staff cadet in 2018. She was a CSM for the general training course and found herself in charge of over 250 cadets.
“Blackdown and the Cadet Program provided me with so many opportunities I would not have otherwise had,” she said.
Angelique Belanger also described the impact life at Blackdown has had on her. She was a course cadet in 2008 and 2010, a staff cadet in 2011 and 2012, and a civilian instructor in 2013 and 2014.
“The friends I’ve made are now life long and I classify them as my extended family,” she said. “The skills I’ve learned, especially leadership and instruction, I use everyday in my work as an Early Childhood Educator.”
“But my most cherished memory from Blackdown is that I met my husband there in 2011,” she said. “I honestly don’t know where my life would have taken me if I didn’t attend Blackdown all those years ago and I am truly thankful and blessed.”
A recent cadet, Dillion Nixon, also feels that his time this past summer has had a significant impact on his life.
“I’m a current course cadet with Pipes and Drums (graduated Aug. 2) and I feel I’ve made lifelong friendships and improved my music skills exponentially.”
“The next 30 years promise to be as impactful and transformative as the last, guided by the timeless principles that have defined Blackdown CTC since its inception: leadership, service, and excellence,” Lieutenant-Colonel Dave Forster, CD, said.
Last Friday, Aug. 16, the parade ground was full of more than 1100 cadets graduating from eight different courses.
During his address to the cadets and their families, Forster talked about this being the 30th anniversary of the training centre.
“For 30 years this training centre has existed to support the Canadian Cadet Program,” he said. “This summer, we continued to support the program, and we welcomed back the music program to Blackdown.”
“Blackdown 2024 has completed its business for this year,” he said.
As the parade square has fallen silent for another year, Blackdown CTC will continue its mission to train the leaders of tomorrow.
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Associated Links:
Blackdown Cadet Training Centre – Canada.ca
Social Media:
Blackdown Cadets | Facebook
Cadets Canada | Facebook
Cadets Canada (@cadetsca) • Instagram photos and videos
Contacts:
Officer Cadet J.T Lewis, Unit Public Affairs Representative
Blackdown Cadet Training Centre
Cell: 905-650-8527
Email: james.lewis@cadets.gc.ca
Captain Morgan Arnott, Public Affairs Officer
Regional Cadet Support Unit (Central)
Tel: 705-733-7836
Email: morgan.arnott@forces.gc.ca
