Petty Officer First Class Hannah Bennett of 126 Red Deer, Royal Canadian Sea Cadet Corps, sails on Wabamun Lake, AB, on October 1, 2022. (Sergeant George Koutsopoulos, Cadet Correspondent, Regional Cadet Support Unit (Northwest).

By Captain Grant Cree, Unit Public Affairs Representative

Hannah Bennett

Local sea cadet tests her sailing skills

Oct 13, 2022 | 3:06 PM

A Red Deer youth was among those able to take part in a prestigious sailing event earlier this month.

Petty Officer First Class Hannah Bennett of 126 Red Deer, Royal Canadian Sea Cadet Corps, sailed on Wabamun Lake, AB., on Oct. 1, 2022.

Officials say Bennett was one of 30 sea cadet sailors competing in this year’s Regional Cadet Regatta from September 30 to October 2, 2022 at the Wabamun Sailing Club. Bennett competed in the regatta as a crew member of a “420” Class sailboat.

“My favorite part of the regatta is being able to put all the skills I learned from sailing during the summer to the test to see how much I improved,” Bennett said, referring to the sailing course she took this summer at Her Majesty’s Canadian Ship QUADRA Cadet Training Center near Comox, B.C.

“I joined Sea Cadets in 2017 because my mom was a cadet and everything she told me about it interested me,” said Bennett, “My favorite part of cadets is sailing and getting to learn new life skills as well as meeting new people. My goal with cadets is to improve my leadership skills and stay in cadets until I age out to learn everything I can from the cadet program.”

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Officials say sailing is one of many activities available to youth at local, regional, and national levels with the Canadian Cadet Program year-round.

The Canadian Cadet Program is described as a fun and active, peer-led program that gives youth the opportunity to meet new people, make life-long friends, travel and try new things. Sea cadets are also said to learn about seamanship, sailing, and traditions of the Royal Canadian Navy.

Officials say adults are also needed to help train, administer and supervise the local youth involved in the Canadian Cadet Program. Becoming part of the Canadian Cadet Program is said to be easier than you may think and a lot of fun, with the skills you learn likely transferable to your regular employment. No previous military or cadet experience is needed.

“For someone thinking about joining cadets, I say do it, because it’s a great opportunity to do things you wouldn’t normally get to,” Bennett said.

In Red Deer, for sea cadets, call 403-342-0010 or email 126sea@cadets.gc.ca. For army cadets, call 403-346-4331 or email 1390army@cadets.gc.ca. For air cadets, call 403-342-2044 or email 24air@cadets.gc.ca.

Story and Photo Credit: Captain Grant Cree, Unit Public Affairs Representative, and Sergeant George Koutsopoulos, Cadet Correspondent, Regional Cadet Support Unit (Northwest).