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Youngest cadet turns acting commanding officer at mess dinner
Fred Bradley, a representative of the Royal Canadian Legion, enjoys a story from LCol Morse as acting commanding officer OS MacKenzie Warren, Cornwall, oversees the Island Sea Cadet Christmas Mess Dinner. It’s tradition for the youngest cadet present to exchange tunics with the commanding officer and assume command for the evening
A recent event in Charlottetown generated enthusiasm when cadets from Rustico (Blue Heron) joined 23 Kent for a very special evening.
Inclement weather prevented the Summerside Corps from attending the event this year.
Indeed, the Middle Mess at HMCS Queen Charlotte, provided by the mess committee and commanding officer LCdr Rob Alain, was vibrating with the sounds of Christmas music and chatter of sea cadets, officers and guests enjoying the second annual Christmas mess dinner.
Participating in the traditional dinner is another major highlight of the training year and offers youth in the cadet program an opportunity to experience directly the pageantry and formality of an ancient military custom.
“The Island Sea Cadet Christmas mess dinners provide a joyful forum for cadets to renew acquaintances and make new friends as well as to learn from distinguished guest speakers who address the ship’s company and guests,” a news release states.
Cadets wear their dress uniform, complete with medals, and sit on either side of long tables known as legs.
They also follow mess at all times.
The youngest cadet present exchanges tunics with the commanding officer and assumes command for the evening.
This year’s guest speaker was LCol Jamie Morse, a member of the Royal Canadian Regiment, currently serving as liaison officer to Veterans Affairs Canada in Charlottetown.
Morse spoke of his own rich experience as an army cadet, and the values of teamwork, leadership and embracing challenge.
Upcoming activities include a marksmanship competition, on-site training to advance seamanship skills, an introduction to public speaking, band practices and the ever-popular overnight canoe trip.
23 RCSCC (Kent) Sea Cadets in Charlottetown, as well as other Island Corps in Summerside and Rustico welcome new members at all times during the training year.
Filmmaker and textile artist Dr. Catherine Morley will discuss “The Arts and the Health/ Helping Professions” as the 2017 Don Mazer Arts and Science lecturer.
Morley is a professor in the School of Nutrition and Dietetics at Acadia University who focuses on arts-informed teaching strategies for working with students preparing for health and human services careers. She will also draw on her expertise and experience in using arts-based approaches for research.
Morley holds a PhD in community rehabilitation and disability studies/educational research, an master of arts in adult education and a bachelor of applied science in human nutrition. She completed a dietetic internship at Vancouver General Hospital.
After 25 years working as a dietitian practitioner-researcher, she completed a documentary film certificate and textile arts diploma at Capilano University in North Vancouver, both to develop artistically and to learn about expanding the reach of research findings through the use of the arts.
She then founded the Canadian Institute for Studies and Art in Nutrition Education.
The 2017 Don Mazer Arts and Science Lecture takes place Feb. 9, 7 p.m. in the dining room of the UPEI Health Sciences Building.