744 Cowichan RCACS

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The official page of 744 Cowichan Royal Canadian Air Cadet Squadron | La page Facebook officielle du 744e Escadron Cowichan des cadets de l'Aviation royale du Canada

On Saturday, June 13, 744 Royal Canadian Air Cadet Squadron held its Annual Ceremonial Review, celebrating an incredible...
06/16/2026

On Saturday, June 13, 744 Royal Canadian Air Cadet Squadron held its Annual Ceremonial Review, celebrating an incredible training year and recognizing the many accomplishments of our cadets, staff, and volunteers. From awards and promotions to special presentations and farewells, it was a day full of memorable moments.

We were honoured to welcome Commander Michael Lawless, Commanding Officer of 11 Field Ambulance (Fd Amb) and 12 Fd Amb, as our Reviewing Officer. His passion for the Canadian Cadet Organization and unwavering support of youth leadership was inspiring and uplifting to all in attendance.

A highlight of the day was recognizing Flight Lieutenant (Ret’d) George Brewster, a Second World War Spitfire pilot and longtime supporter of 744 RCACS. At 102 years old, George continues to inspire generations of cadets. Sponsoring Committee Chair Lisa Olund presented him with a squadron challenge coin featuring his own aircraft, the Spitfire IX, in recognition of his years of generous support to our squadron.

The parade also marked two important Change of Appointment ceremonies. Congratulations to Warrant Officer 2nd Class (WO2) Brody McCartney, who assumed the appointment of Squadron Chief Warrant Officer from Warrant Officer 1st Class (WO1) Faith Smith, and to WO2 Ian Norris, who assumed the appointment of Squadron Warrant Officer from WO2 William Baker. We thank WO1 Smith and WO2 Baker for their outstanding leadership and dedication, and wish WO2 McCartney and Norris every success in their new roles.

Finally, we said a bittersweet goodbye to our Training Officer, Lt Katie Pelletier, who will be moving to Colorado with her husband as he begins an OUTCAN posting. Lt Pelletier has been a valued member of our staff, and while she will be greatly missed, we wish her and her family all the best on this exciting new adventure.

Thank you to our cadets, staff, Sponsoring Committee, families, supporters, and community partners for another fantastic year. We are incredibly proud of everything 744 RCACS has accomplished and look forward to what the future holds.

📸 WO2 Matthew Ruiter, Cadet Correspondent
✍️ A/SLt Elliott Kinsey, Unit Public Affairs Representative

What a night! 🎉Congratulations to all of the cadets who were recognized at the 2026 744 Royal Canadian Air Cadet Squadro...
06/08/2026

What a night! 🎉

Congratulations to all of the cadets who were recognized at the 2026 744 Royal Canadian Air Cadet Squadron (RCACS) Awards Night last Wednesday, June 3rd. Their hard work, dedication, leadership, and countless hours of effort throughout the training year has not gone unnoticed.

A special congratulations to Lieutenant-Commander (LCdr) Sterling Jamont on her promotion from Lieutenant (Navy)! As she takes on the role of Training Support Coordinator for Sail and Ship’s Boat Operator at HMCS Quadra Cadet Training Centre this summer, she has earned the rank of LCdr for the duration of her contract. We wish her all the best in this exciting new appointment and are proud to see one of our former officers recognized with this opportunity. ⚓👏

A huge thank you to the staff, volunteers, sponsors, and families who helped make this training year such a success and who helped put on a fantastic awards ceremony.

But we’re not done yet… 👀

Our Annual Ceremonial Review (ACR) is soon! We’ll be celebrating another incredible year of cadet achievements and showcasing everything 744 RCACS has accomplished. Stay tuned for photos and highlights from the big day!

📸 WO2 Matthew Ruiter, Cadet Correspondent
✍️ A/SLt Elliott Kinsey, Unit Public Affairs Representative

What started as a rainy day at 19 Wing Comox turned into an unforgettable aviation experience for our cadets!While weath...
06/08/2026

What started as a rainy day at 19 Wing Comox turned into an unforgettable aviation experience for our cadets!

While weather kept aircraft grounded for most of the morning, cadets enjoyed tours of the Base Fire Department Trucks and the aerodrome’s control tower, learning how both emergency services and air traffic control support flight operations.

Once the skies cleared, cadets were able to get airborne for power familiarization flying!

A huge thank you to Capt Pépin for arranging these fantastic opportunities and to the staff at 19 Wing for helping make the day a success.

📸✍️ A/SLt Elliott Kinsey - Unit Public Affairs Representative
pac

05/22/2026

Stuff is always falling out of these pockets.

Exercise Cormorant brought together cadets from 744 Cowichan Royal Canadian Air Cadet Squadron and 2924 Khowutzun Royal ...
04/20/2026

Exercise Cormorant brought together cadets from 744 Cowichan Royal Canadian Air Cadet Squadron and 2924 Khowutzun Royal Canadian Army Cadet Corps for an unforgettable Search and Rescue (SAR) field training exercise.

With support from a local SAR group, cadets got an inside look at real-world operations including an impressive K9 demonstration showcasing how search dogs are trained and deployed in the field.

Throughout the exercise, cadets built essential survival skills:

🔥 Fire-making
🏕️ Improvised shelter construction
🍳 Field cooking
❄️ Staying warm, dry, and comfortable in challenging conditions
🧭 How to be found

From teamwork to resilience, Exercise Cormorant challenged everyone to step outside their comfort zone and gain skills that could one day save lives.

📸 A/SLt Elliott Kinsey, Unit Public Affairs Representative + OCdt Stefanie Kostamo
✍️ A/SLt Elliott Kinsey, Unit Public Affairs Representative

744 CO’s Parade – April 1st, 2026Congratulations on your promotion. Your dedication, discipline, and steady effort are c...
04/09/2026

744 CO’s Parade – April 1st, 2026

Congratulations on your promotion. Your dedication, discipline, and steady effort are clearly showing in your progress and the example you set for others. It’s great to see the results of your hard work.

Drill is looking sharp and continues to improve, which reflects the commitment and pride being put into each practice and parade night. The attention to detail, teamwork, and professionalism on display show strong progress across the unit.

Well done, and keep up the great work.

📷: WO2 Ruiter, Matthew
Cadets Canada Pacific Cadets / Cadets de la Pacifique

03/15/2026

The Cadet Honour Band is performing again!
If you have heard them before, you know how good they are!
Do not miss this amazing performance!

Wednesday night’s CO’s Parade was a big one for the squadron. We were proud to promote several cadets to Leading Air Cad...
03/14/2026

Wednesday night’s CO’s Parade was a big one for the squadron. We were proud to promote several cadets to Leading Air Cadet (LAC), the first major milestone in a cadet’s career and a recognition of their commitment, effort, and growth within the program.

In addition to promotions, we also had the opportunity to recognize a number of cadets for their accomplishments. Zone Marksmanship Competition Pins were presented to cadets who represented the squadron at the zone level, a Music Qualification Badge was awarded to recognize progress in the cadet music program, and our newly promoted Warrant Officers received their Warrant Officer plaques, marking an important achievement in their leadership journey.

Congratulations to all of the cadets recognized this week. Your hard work and dedication continue to make the squadron proud.

For Civilian Instructor (CI) Warren Ruiter, the dream of flying didn’t start in a cockpit, it started by simply looking ...
02/25/2026

For Civilian Instructor (CI) Warren Ruiter, the dream of flying didn’t start in a cockpit, it started by simply looking up.

“I always wanted to be a pilot,” he shares. “Ever since I was little, I was always watching the sky. I loved learning about aviation history and everything about how aircraft worked.”

That childhood fascination turned into action after attending an aviation museum open house, where he noticed cadets volunteering and directing parking.

“I thought they looked really sharp and professional,” he recalls. “I signed up not long after that.”

Through the Cadet Program, CI Ruiter earned both his Glider Pilot wings and a Private Pilot License, milestones that launched him into the aviation community. He went on to complete his Commercial Pilot License and Multi-Engine IFR rating, supported by continuation flying scholarships that helped him progress toward a professional career.

Today, established in the aviation industry and giving back as a staff member at 744 Royal Canadian Air Cadet Squadron, he encourages cadets to pursue their goals with confidence.

“It’s a fantastic career, and it’s a great time to be entering aviation. There’s strong demand for pilots right now, and the opportunities are there if you’re willing to work for them.”

In the spirit of Aviation Day, we’re proud to highlight a staff member who once stood where our cadets stand now; proof that big dreams, combined with dedication, can truly take flight.

✍️ WO2 Matthew Ruiter, Cadet Correspondent

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3790 Gibbins Road
Duncan, BC
V9L6E8

Opening Hours

6:30pm - 9pm

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