Many of Richmond’s youth have had feelings of boredom, restlessness, or even isolation over the past several months.
Schools closed early, sports events and clubs were cancelled, and it has been generally harder to maintain the same connections with their peers.
However, Richmond’s army cadets - 2947 “39 Service Battalion” Royal Canadian Army Cadet Corps - have been keeping nearly 100 youth continuously engaged and connected since the pandemic restrictions kicked in on March.
The sea, army, and air cadet programs’ in-person activities were proactively cancelled across the country as COVID numbers increased.
However, this hasn’t stopped 2947 from leveraging technology to keep their members active.
Over the past several months, it has hosted virtual fitness nights, webinars, leadership town halls, and teambuilding challenges on a weekly basis.
Recently, the cadets completed a “Helping Hand” challenge, where they submitted photos of themselves helping around the house or supporting their neighbours.
Participation in these activities ranged from a low of 50 to a high of 95 cadets every Thursday since March, using internal communications platforms such as Slack.
“We’ve worked hard to build a culture of digital connectivity, engagement and inclusion over the past several years,” said Capt. Jeff Ng, commanding officer of 2947.
“This has really enabled our youth to not only be comfortable engaging in a virtual space when face-to-face contact is restricted, but also teach them to use tools like Slack in both a personal and professional context. We’re preparing them to use the same platforms they’ll see when they enter the workforce.”
2947 has posted some of the strongest participation results in the province when it comes to online engagement.
Cadets have been able to maintain friendships, share laughs and memes, and participate in thought-provoking and insightful learning activities.
“The best thing I see out of these activities is the outstanding level of care and compassion shown by our senior cadets,” added Ng.
“They meet with their juniors with a genuine interest in creating a comfortable mental and social space for them.
“They are the driving force behind designing activities to help their people destress, stay engaged, and ultimately maintain valuable social connections.”
2947 RCACC was named the Best Army Cadet Corps in BC in 2016, 2018, and 2019.
It has also produced the Top Army Cadet in BC in 2018, 2019, and 2020. Cadets ages 12-18 meet and train on Thursdays during the regular school year and there are zero costs to the program. More information can be found at www.2947armycadets.ca.
