Royal Canadian Air Cadets
What is Cadets?
618 Queen City Squadron is a squadron of the Royal Canadian Air Cadets, which is part of the largest youth program in the country. Air Cadets participate in a variety of fun and challenging activities. There is something for everyone, no matter what their personal interests may be. The program promotes elements of leadership, self-confidence, self-discipline, aviation, citizenship, fitness, effective speaking, music, and much more. Our Squadron is based in downtown Toronto, and has been proudly serving our community since 1956.
The aims of the Royal Canadian Air Cadets are to:
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Develop in youth the attributes of good citizenship and leadership,
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Promote physical fitness,
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Stimulate an interest in the air activities of the Royal Canadian Air Force and aviation.
These aims are accomplished through weekly training during the school year, optional summer training courses, and extracurricular activities.
The cadet program is a program for youth ages 12-18, offered in partnership by the Department of National Defence, which is responsible for the training of cadets, and the Air Cadet League of Canada, which helps fund air cadet squadrons across Canada. While the training is delivered by Canadian Armed Forces officers, cadets are not members of the Canadian Armed Forces.
Our vision as a cadet squadron is to empower young leaders through an engaging and dynamic curriculum that fosters a youth-leading-youth program. We strive to create a fun learning environment, which provides coaching and mentorship to youth, to ensure that they become capable leaders who can deliver the program in a manner that reflects the Air Cadet mission.
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Get to Know Us
The Cadet Program provides opportunities for youth to gain valuable knowledge and skills that build confidence and help pave the way in a transition to adulthood. Cadets engage in varied and unique experiences, while developing competencies in leadership, citizenship, and physical and mental fitness. Offering positive youth development programs, sea, land and air cadet corps and squadrons are in communities across Canada.
Sea Cadets develop seamanship skills, including navigation and how to sail. Army Cadets build outdoor and leadership skills through participation in expedition activities such as hiking, climbing, kayaking, orienteering. Air Cadets gain aviation related skills through activities that include flying, gliding, and studies in aerospace.
The Cadet Program strives to offer Cadets a safe, welcoming, and supportive program environment where all feel respected, valued, included and able to achieve their full potential.
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Invite all Canadian youth – The Cadet Programs are open to youth aged 12 to 18 that are Canadian citizens or are authorized to reside in Canada. Programs are inclusive and celebrate the rich diversity within Canadian society.
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Instill Canadian Military Values – Cadet Program training, direction, decision making, and behaviour are guided by ethics and values of the Canadian military. Values include loyalty, integrity, courage, inclusion, excellence and accountability. Cadets embrace and embody these values.
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Develop Citizenship, Leadership, and Fitness – The Cadet Program offers cadets opportunities to develop skills and knowledge that: enable them to positively contribute as leaders in Canadian society, instill a lifelong appreciation of health and fitness, and support successful transitions to adulthood.
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Balance Safety and Challenge – The Cadet Program offers activities and events that are challenging and safe. Cadets and their parents/guardians can be confident that the adults leading the program are focused on the development of youth and invested in their health and welfare.
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Leave a positive lifelong impact – Whether cadets stay with the program for many years or for just a few weeks, it is hoped that their experiences were impactful, educational and are regarded (or remembered) as positive.
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Cadets are supervised, administered, and trained by Cadet Instructor Cadre officers and non-commissioned members of a sub-component of the Reserve Force of the Canadian Armed Forces who, by the terms of their enrollment or transfer, have undertaken as their primary duty the safety, supervision, administration, and training of Cadets..