What was the Conference About?

The Pillars 2005 Conference was held April 29,30 and May 1st at the Prestige Inn in Vernon BC. The attendees were Cadets, CIC Officers, Civilian Instructors, Army Cadet League of BC members, Parents, Sponsor representatives, Sponsoring Committee members, Army Cadet League of Canada representatives from Ottawa, D Cadets representative from Ottawa, Regular Force members, Reserve Unit and Affiliated Unit representatives, VACC Alumni Association members, and some members of the general public. Close to 200 attended the conference over the weekend.

The purpose of the two day conference; bring together the stake holders who share in the responsibility of supporting (pillars) the Royal Canadian Army Cadet program in British Columbia. The conference was co-sponsored by the Army Cadet League of Canada, BC Branch and the Regional Cadet Support Unit (Pacific). A committee was assembled and the planning began. The committee consisted of Chairman LCol. (ret'd) Philip Sherwin - Zone Chairman Vancouver Island South, Major Russell Lacey - SO2 Army Cadets RCSU(Pac), Captain Al Harland - RCSU(Pac), Major Roger Prouse - Governor Affiliated Unit Rep BCR's Vancouver, Captain Ted Usher - Liaison Officer for RCSU(Pac) and ACLBC, Captain Richard Grubb RCSU(Pac).

The conference began with attendees registering to attend. Once they arrived they stayed at local hotels and the Vernon Army Cadet Summer Training Centre.

Saturday morning started with an opening welcome by the Chairman, Philip Sherwin. He then introduced a 12 year old female by the name of Cadet Burgemaster from 1705 RCACC BCD's Vernon. She explained what she expected from cadets having only recently joined. The conference speakers then proceeded through to a senior cadet, a parent from a Sponsoring Committee to a newly appoint Officer Cadet as a Commanding Officer, through the Army Cadet League, the Regional Support staff to the CO RCSU(Pac). This was the building of the pillars to support the cadet.

In the afternoon, the CIC Officers went to the camp for an afternoon of meetings with HQ staff. The civilians attendees, Army Cadet League members and Sponsoring Committee members stayed at the hotel and met to discuss league issues. The meeting finished with the Annual General Meeting for the BC Branch of the Army Cadet League. President Gene Lake stepped down from his position and the new president appointed was MGen Brian Vernon.

In the evening, a gala social was held at the hotel for all attendees of the conference. This was a great evening with cadet band displays, silent auction and door prizes. Food, refreshments and fun was had by all. The highlight of the evening was the unveiling of the new Roy Rigby-Jones cup. This cup honors Roy for his years of commitment to the Army Cadet League of Canada. The cup will be awarded each year to a deserving cadet corps that shows excellence in providing a program to its cadets.

Sunday started with a pancake breakfast held at the Brigadier Murphy Armoury. Set up in the area both inside and outside the building were various displays of cadet, military and civilian items for the attendees and public to view. Cadet corps staff brought photographs and items of interest from their home units. The CF Recruiting Centre had a display along with various vendors associated to the cadet movement. Outside saw a display by the staff and cadets who attended the first Pioneer Course at VACSTC, along with expedition training equipment.

The conference ended with a large group of attendees gathering in the Armoury for a 15 minute talk by Mr. Francois Arsenault of Calgary. Francois displayed his Army Cadet History web site and spoke on the vast information available on the page. This was followed by presentation of plaques to the various Affiliated Unit representatives for their support to the army cadet corps. Next, three officers received their Commission scrolls from LCol Washbrook. Major Nick Pope from VACSTC received his 3rd bar to his CD medal from the CO as well.

Finally, several cadet corps won efficiency awards for their performance over the past training year. The conference was concluded with Major Gary Law from the BCR/Irish Fusiliers cadet corps in Richmond receiving the Roy Rigby-Jones cup for having the best run cadet corps in BC.

This was a very successful conference. It appears to be the first of it's kind in Canada. Terry Whitty from the national office of the Army Cadet League of Canada told the conference delegates that we in BC are a far ahead of the game when it came to cooperation between the Army Cadet League and Regional Cadet Support Unit.

Next year, Pillars 2006 - BE THERE!