by Kelsey Klassen, Abbotsford News
Geoff Desmoulin, weapons expert for Spike TV’s Deadliest Warrior series and former local army cadet, will be speaking at an open house on Thursday, Jan. 19 about his experience as a cadet and how it shaped his life and career.
“(Cadets) was important in formulating me in my personality and giving me tools for life,” said the Abbotsford local and one of the cadet program’s most high-profile graduates.
The former infantryman and biathlete come biomedical engineer will also be talking about the show, which pits legendary warriors and their weapons against each other to determine which of them is the “deadliest” after a dramatized battle to the death.
Desmoulin was recruited to assess the weapons of ancient warriors by the television program in late 2006, and the popular show is currently being evaluated for continuation next season.
The television personality said he was looking forward to welcoming his former corps back to Abbotsford.
After over a decade of displacement, the 1922 Royal Westminster Regiment Cadet Corps are coming home.
In October of last year, the City of Abbotsford granted the local army cadets a place to call their own – they just have to build it. In honour of the anticipated move from their temporary location in Aldergrove to the community centre they have planned in Grant Park, the cadets invite the public to come see what their program offers and learn more about what is planned for the future.
Captain Maria Coulter agreed with Desmoulin that being enrolled in cadets teaches children valuable life skills.
“You get everything you put into it, out of it.”
Since 2005, the 1922 Royal Canadian Army Cadets have graduated 200 cadets from the Abbotsford, Aldergrove and Langley areas. She went on to explain that children enrolled in the program are supported in their goals, and have access to a diverse selection of personal development courses. The extra courses and programs are free, courtesy of the National Cadet Program summer training centre.
“I shouldn’t say they’re free,” amends Coulter. “There is an expectation of attendance, help with fundraising and behavioural compliance, so let’s call them no-cost.”
The captain of the Abbotsford corps emphasized they have moved away from the past focus on the forces, and towards their other two core tenets of physical fitness and citizenship. Community service hours form a large part of determining when cadets are promoted within the program.The co-ed program is open to youth all across Canada age 12-18, with no limitations.
She also says that while their new home will be shared with the greater community, cadets will be expected to take ownership of the grounds and help with the upkeep. The federal government named the National Cadet Program as its primary youth program funding recipient, but the local corps also intends to rent part of their estimated 10,000 square foot facility back to the community.
They hope to start building the cadet hall next year, but are actively raising funds and sourcing building material – donations of which Coulter says would help accelerate the process.
People interested in learning more about the 1922 Royal Canadian Army Cadets and their new home are invited to attend the open house at the Abbotsford Arts Centre, located at 2329 Crescent Way. The evening begins at 7 p.m. with a parade, followed by Desmoulin’s keynote address.
Coffee and tea will be provided after, and members of the cadets will be available for questions.