Driving force
Truro Sea Cadets holding event to raise money for trip to nation’s capital
The 88 Truro Royal Canadian Sea Cadets are holding a bottle drive to raise funds for a trip to Ottawa in March 2019.
A local cadets squadron is offering to clear out used bottles from the holidays in hopes of raising money for an upcoming trip.
Members of the 88 Truro Royal Canadian Sea Cadets will be collecting bottles to recycle on Saturday, Jan. 6, to raise funds for a trip to Ottawa in 2019.
“We actually haven’t had a bottle drive in a couple of years,” said Colleen Dewis, commanding officer of the Truro Sea Cadets.
“We thought right after the holidays would be a really good time to hold one. We’ve got some great support from parents who really want to get these kids on a trip to Ottawa. Most of our kids haven’t been out of the province other than for trips to P.E.I. for sailing.”
Both cadets and their parents will be collecting bottles during the day, which will all go toward the grand total needed to fund the trip to Ottawa.
“We’re estimating it’s going to take $24,000 to $26,000, but that is a generous estimate,” said Dewis.
“We’d like to make it so the kids don’t have to pay anything out of pocket. The estimate covers the two bus drivers needed as well as getting at least 20 or so kids there and back. We have 12 active members now, but we want that buffer zone in case some new cadets join us throughout the year.”
The trip is planned for March 2019, and will serve as a citizenship trip, taking the cadets to
Parliament Hill and various museums around the city to teach them about the history of Canada and how it’s run.
“One of the big pieces of the
Canadian Cadet movement is teaching our cadets how to be good citizens,” said Dewis.
“We do this through things like volunteer work, but also teach them about how the country works, how they can be a part of it and how they can make positive changes to how our country is run.”
The cadets will be collecting and sorting bottles in the parking lot of Quality Concrete at 186
Lower Truro Rd., and will be offering other ways people can get their bottles to them as well.
“We have an account at the
Subway Bottle Exchange on Pictou Road, so people could bring their bottles there, and the collec- tion will be put on our account,” said Dewis.
“Or if they want to post on our public Facebook event page, we will have cadets and parents driving around for pickups. If people can’t get out to us, then we will go to them.”
Cadets and parents will be at the collection drop-off from 8:30 a.m. until noon on Jan. 6, and information on the bottle drive can be found on their Facebook event page. (www.facebook.com/ events/154615521847386)
For those who don’t have bottles to donate, but want to support the cadets’ fundraising efforts, donations are also welcome and can be given by contacting them directly by email at 88truroseacadets@gmail.com, or by contacting their supporting branch, the Navy League of Canada Truro Branch.
cody.mceachern@trurodaily.com