Junior Canadian Rangers a Popular Attraction in Arviat

By Capt Steve Watton, UIO, 1 CRPG

Yellowknife, NWT. The isolated and remote hamlet of Arviat, located on the western shore of Hudson Bay, celebrated the opening of the North's newest Junior Canadian Ranger (JCR) patrol on Tuesday, November 29, 2011.


Junior Canadian Rangers from the newly formed Arviat patrol
play a confidence game as part of leadership session during
familiarization training about the program.

After a week-long campaign to attract youth to the program, a total of 123 Junior Canadian Rangers paraded for the first time at the Mark Kalluak Hall where they were greeted by hamlet Mayor Bob Leonard.

"The community is very pleased with the turnout and excited about the youth program," said Leonard. "The JCRs offer activities that focus on traditional, life and on-the-land skills and offer life long benefits. We are looking forward to supporting the JCR Programme."

The Junior Canadian Rangers are a national youth program for boys and girls aged 12 to 18 in more than 130 remote and isolated communities across the country. It helps JCRs learn to make healthy choices and safe decisions on the land and water and in personal life styles. Across the North, there are more than 1300 Junior Canadian Rangers in 40 patrols.


Arviat Mayor Bob Leonard and Ranger Sergeant David Ukutak
sign the commemorative opening certificates for the Arviat
Junior Canadian Ranger Patrol on November 29, 2011.

"We had great support from the community and a large turn out of family and friend for the official stand up ceremony," said WO Ed Patten, Junior Canadian Ranger Instructor with the First Canadian Ranger Patrol Group. "We got 146 Junior Canadian Rangers registered, a strong adult committee in place and more youth asking about joining. This is going to be a great patrol."

Andrew Kuksut, a 17-year-old grade eleven student, said he was excited about being elected as the JCR Sergeant and receiving his uniform. "This is fantastic," he said. "I expect to be learning a lot about traditional stuff, air rifle shooting and getting out on the land."

Ranger Sergeant David Ukutak said the Junior Canadian Rangers will be meeting regularly and is busy working with the adult committee planning future activities for them.

"We will get some Rangers to assist and the committee members to help us move forward," he said. "They'll be doing things like fishing, hunting, map and compass, learning to set up a camp site and stuff like that throughout the year even in the winter -the bitter cold that accompanies small town northern living."


Family and friends gather at the Mark Kalluak Hall to watch the official
opening of the Arviat patrol with 123 Junior Canadian Rangers on parade.


"The JCR program will be a success in Arviat because of the commitment that the Ranger Patrol has shown," said Capt Sharon Low, Officer Commanding the Junior Canadian Rangers. "The youth respect the Rangers and what they represent as Canadian icons of the North. The JCRs are proud young Canadians who will thrive under the Rangers' mentorship."

The JCR programme offers a safe and secure environment for youth to make valuable contributions to their communities and become active, responsible citizens. To find out more about the Junior Canadian Rangers visit the JCR website.

NOTE TO EDITORS:

For more information, please contact Capt Steve Watton, Unit Information Officer, 1 Canadian Ranger Patrol Group, 876-873-0700 x6832, cellular 876-445-1970 or by email to Stephen.watton@forces.gc.ca