Trail cadets have returned home as the squadron prepares to mark its 75th anniversary this fall
Eighteen cadets from Trail’s 531 City of Trail Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Cadets, returned home this month after a summer spent training and instructing at Cadet Training Centres across Western Canada.
Sixteen cadets took part in specialized summer courses in locations including Cold Lake and Cochrane in Alberta, Vernon and Quadra in British Columbia, and Whitehorse in the Yukon.
Two others were selected to work as staff cadets, serving as instructors and mentors to younger cadets — a key leadership role in the cadet program.
Among the cadets was Noah Fontes, who completed the rigorous Survival Instructor Course at Cold Lake.
Fontes earned two top awards: the Top Survival Skills Award and the Top Cadet of the Flight, standing out for both his technical ability and leadership during the intensive field training.
In August, cadets from Trail and Nelson participated in the annual Lt. Robert Hampton Gray VC memorial ceremony at the Trail Cenotaph.
The event honoured the legacy of Gray, a Trail-born naval officer and the only Canadian naval recipient of the Victoria Cross during the Second World War.
This training year marks the 75th anniversary of 531 Squadron.
The squadron was first formed on March 2, 1951, and continues to serve as a place where young people in the region can build skills, confidence, and lifelong friendships.
The new training year begins Wednesday, Sept. 17, at the Kemball Armoury on 7th Avenue in Trail.
The first meeting starts at 6:15 p.m.
The 2025–26 year also coincides with a national milestone: 50 years since girls were officially welcomed into the cadet program.
Following the 1975 passage of Bill C-16, which amended the National Defence Act to allow “persons” rather than just “boys” to join, the program has evolved into one of Canada’s most inclusive youth organizations.
Today, girls make up a significant portion of the cadet population and are integral to its leadership and success.
Open to youth aged 12 to 18, the Cadet Program is Canada’s largest federally funded youth initiative, with over 50,000 participants nationwide.
It offers a broad mix of experiences — including aviation, survival training, marksmanship, citizenship, and public service — all at no cost to families.
While the program is supported by the Department of National Defence, there is no obligation for cadets to join the military.
Applications for new cadets are open year-round at registration.cadets.gc.ca.
Adults interested in volunteering with 531 Squadron are also encouraged to get involved.