Welcome to the first in a series of posts designed to sort out, if anything else, the jig saw puzzle that is the Sudbury, Ontario Garrison.
By way of introduction and for you to understand my motivations in undertaking what seems to be a big project, here is my connection:
In 1991, my best friend Richard Glenn convinced me to join the 2912 Army Cadets, here in Sudbury. Being an awkward and "geeky" kid, I for some reason took to the structure, bonds and discipline of the Cadet system. I quickly excelled, earning the rank of Warrant Officer in 3 years. I felt a strong need to prove my abilities as an "Irish" cadet, and earned the Lt. Gov. of Ontario Medal of Excellence in 1993, and in my following year, was appointed CSM "H" Coy. in my first year of staff, in the camp now known as CSTC Blackdown. I left the cadet system early, as I enlisted with the 2nd Bn. The Irish Regiment of Canada as a co-operative education student in August, 1993. (For a year, I struggled to be both a cadet and reservist - something now forbidden by regulation)
I stayed with the Irish (through some difficult personal times) and eventually reached the rank of Sergeant in 2001. During my time with the Regiment, I spent a few years on class 'B' contracts as both recruiter and admin NCO for recruit courses. My official release date was 2003.
When my oldest son considered joining 2912 Army Cadets, I began looking at how I could help out. About this time, Captain Aline Groulx-Grant took command of 2912. This proved to be an interesting dynamic, as she had been one of my cadet recruits back in the early 90's! She allowed me to come back, first as a guest instructor for a leadership course, then later as a Civilian Volunteer and Administration Officer. In 2009, after a year and a half of sorting though (and trying to locate) my personnel files, I was sworn in as an Officer Cadet in the Cadet Instructor Cadre (CIC). After a long Prior Learning Assessment Review (PLAR), the CF decided to write off some of my courses, and I am now a Lieutenant and the Training Officer for 2912. My three kids are now all at different levels in the Corps as cadets, and for the most part, seem to enjoy it.
That's the pertinent biographical information. Now let me explain the "project".
Captain Groulx-Grant and I have often spoke of "the dream" of taking some of our senior cadets overseas, to go on a pilgrimage of sorts. This idea took of on our recent fall field training exercise, when Sgt R. Ealdama of the Sudbury Police Service (and father of Pte Andrew Miller, who was killed recently in Afghanistan) allowed us to use his property for the training.
One thing led to another, and thought the generousity of the Sudbury Police Association who are looking at sponsoring a portion of the trip, we are looking at sending 12 of our senior cadets and 3 officers on an adventure, though the battle fields of Italy, France and North-West Europe.
Those of you who know me, know I like to think big....and I am stubborn...
In order to cover the costs of the trip, we require the support of community members and businesses.
I also hate having to beg. Hence why I have always supported programs like the Corps Junction Creek Clean-up, the Pigeon Lake Restoration over the (albeit necessary) likes of Tag Days.
So, in order to generate "best bang for your buck" for the Community, we are undertaking a project to restore the knowledge that has been lost (or hidden from plain view) of the contributions of Sudburians. Thee are 624 names on the Memorial Wall. Now it is time to collect the stories and give meaning to their sacrifice.
My first undertaking is to develop a clear timeline of the military connections from the founding of the Sudbury Rifle Company in 1896, though to the inception of the 2nd Battalion, The Irish Regiment in 1965, and up until today.
This will be a formidable task. I have found countless resources already, however nothing I have found has a collective "Sudbury" theme.
Time to change that...
