Annual Inspections are yearly ceremonial reviews that take place within the cadet squadron and mark the end of the “final and ultimate event of the local corps yearly training activity.” These inspections are a major part of the cadets program. The annual inspections are often highlighted in newspapers marking the end of the year. This annual inspection is a highly anticipated event for all air cadets in the squadron as it effectively marks the end of a squadron year, recognizes outstanding cadets and includes promotion of certain Cadets as well.
Along with the air cadets themselves, this inspection is also attended by parents and various dignitaries. Each year a reviewing officer of a higher position will be welcomed to conduct the inspection.
The following are some examples of Awards given to the Cadets along with the names of who received these awards:
1980
- Outstanding Cadet Award: Kathy Armstrong
- Outstanding Senior Non-commissioned Officer (NCO): Flight Sergeant Lawrence Huppie
- Outstanding Junior NCO: Sergeant Phil Lutton
- Citizenship Award: Dawn Houghton
- Best First Year Cadet: Leading Air Craftsman Greg Davis
1981
- Most Outstanding: F/S Dawn Houghton (also awarded Abbotsford’s gliding pilot training scholarship)
- Citizenship Award: Cpl. Tracy Bull
- Range Proficiency: Cpl. Varinderjit Dhillon
- First Aid: A/C Johnathon Boulton
- Best flying training candidate: F/S Dawn Houghton
- Chief Instructors Trophy: Lac Laura Daley
- Most Proficient junior NCO: Cpl. Paul Bainbridge
- Most Proficient senior: F/S John MacLeod
- Best First Year Cadet: A/C Jonathon Boulton
- Best third year cadet: Cpl. Tracy Bull
1982
- Awarded the Senior Leaders course*: Flight Sergeant Dawn Houghton
- Awarded the Technical Training course: Aircraftman Byron R. Mayes
- Gliding Award: Sergeant Laura Dalley and Sergeant Eric Stier
- Special Activities Awards: Awarded to 3 unnamed Cadets
*These courses are awarded to Cadet members so they can have special training in courses offered in areas such as Alberta, Ontario and Princeton.
REFLECTION QUESTIONS
- Did the presence of the annual Awards inspections encourage Cadets to try harder to achieve awards?
- Considering most names here belong to white people, was there diversity in the cadet program? Or perhaps was there a lack of diversity in who received the Awards?
- Were annual awards inspections events a big deal within the community?