Junior Canadian Rangers Learn About Leadership in the South
By Capt. Rick Morse
A select group of Junior Canadian Rangers from 11 communities from across the Far North of Ontario have spent a week learning about the importance of leadership skills during a tour of southern Ontario.
In a busy itinerary, the 12 Junior Rangers met with the mayor of Niagara Falls, lunched with BGen. Fred Lewis, commander of Land Force Central Area, and spent a day with cadets in a special one-year academic program for aboriginals at the Royal Military College in Kingston.
They were surprised when Jim Diodati, the mayor of Niagara Falls, spoke to them about the complexities of running his city.
"I was impressed by Mr. Diodati," said Marsha Hunter, 18, a Junior Ranger from Peawanuk, a small Cree community on Hudson Bay. "I never knew how much responsibility a big city mayor has. You always have to be ready to deal with things when they pop up".
Junior Canadian Rangers from northern Ontario saw the Niagara Falls during their
tour of southern Ontario.
Photo: Capt. Rick Morse
"The goal was to assemble a group of more senior Junior Rangers in the 15- to 18-year age bracket and expose them to different forms of leadership, in both the military and civilian worlds, particularly at the municipal government level." said Capt. Caryl Fletcher, officer commanding the 650 Junior Rangers in Northern Ontario. "They also had an opportunity to learn something about life in different parts of southern Ontario and the geography in those areas.
"As for culture, I don’t believe any other place on earth is more culturally diverse then the city of Toronto. There they had the chance to see first-hand, just by walking around in the downtown area, how other cultures differ from their own".
The Junior Rangers visited CFB Borden, went up the CN Tower in Toronto, toured the municipal offices in Trenton, were given a tour of CFB Trenton, and were in Ottawa for the Remembrance Day service at the National War Memoral, as well as a ceremony with aboriginal veterans at the National Aboriginal Veterans Monument.
"I think they were mezmorized by the number of people at the Remembrance Day service," Capt. Fletcher said.
A highlight of their tour was the visit to Royal Military College where they met with students in the Aboriginal Learning Opportunity Year program. They talked with the students about their educational progam, drummed with them, and participated in traditional ceremonies.
"The kids really seemed to enjoy themselves, whatever the activity," said Sgt. James Doherty, the Junior Ranger training co-ordinator for Northern Ontario. "I think they made some good friends. You could see that by how well they got along with each other. They enjoyed themselves and they learned a lot. It was a very good trip."
