After being closed for the duration of the pandemic, HMCS Acadia’s Cadet Training Center in Cornwallis Park, Nova Scotia, will not be reopening.
Training centers in Greenwood, N.S. and Gagetown, NB, will continue to be used in the future. The Debert training center closed in 2021.
Major Shawn Sperry, deputy commander of the Regional Cadet Support Unit Atlantic Region, said the program will change so that cadets can complete the first two levels required at designated sites within the community. rather than having to travel to the nearest training center. .
The newly established Cadet Activity Program will be rolling out this summer and will offer approximately 200 community locations across the country.
It is expected that there will be over 9,000 participants for the first level of training and over 7,000 for the second level.
Sperry said the closure of Cornwallis Park and the overall program overhaul comes amid pandemic-induced funding uncertainty and the need to centralize the program.
Some local residents say they will miss the training center.
“It’s very unfortunate for this area,” said retired veteran and resident Peter Nordland.
“It was awesome. It just brought this place to life over the summer when the cadets were here, and we’re pretty disappointed.”
John Rogers, a resident and retired Sea Scout Skipper – the adult leader of the Sea Scout ship – said he was sad to see him go.
“It was a great program for the kids…It also puts a few people in the area to work.”
Sperry acknowledges those sentiments, but said the changes will allow more cadets across Canada to train in the future.
“Across Canada, in many communities, we have these sites that will be set up with staff to basically allow cadets to do day camps for their first and second year, which gives them the opportunity to stay at home. home, and their parents will drop them out,” Sperry said.
Cadets will be sent to a CTC location to complete their training only after completing the first two levels.
“It may vary from shipping, aviation, music, sailing and a number of other activities…they may be from Atlantic Canada, but they will be transported to the appropriate CTC across the country and enjoy the same experience that would have been at HMCS Acadia,” Sperry said.
Training centers will now only offer the last two levels. They will also offer additional courses such as seamanship and sailing.
Sperry said he doesn’t know what will happen to the HMCS Acadia building itself.
