Hundreds of perfectly shined black boots crossed the hardwood floor of Porter Creek Secondary School gymnasium last Friday afternoon as 96 cadets from the Whitehorse Cadet Summer Training Centre marched in their graduation parade.

The parade celebrates the accomplishments the cadets have had this summer, said Cpt. Robert MacLeod, the event's master of ceremonies.

"You've outdone yourselves and you should be very proud,” Maj. Deidre Peet, the commanding officer for the Northern Regional Cadet Supporting Unit, told the cadets.

Maj. P.M.G. Batstone agreed, saying the cadets had risen to the physical and mental challenges they were faced with over the recent weeks.

"And you've done so in fine style,” he added.

Each summer, more than 200 cadets attend training at the camp in the Mary Lake subdivision.

While more than half come from northern communities, others travel from as far south as Victoria.

Each summer, 13 cadets come from the United Kingdom to attend training as part of an exchange program.

Last Friday's cadets were part of the army cadet basic expedition course and the army cadet expedition instructor course.

Thirty-four were part of the basic expedition course, a three-week course where the young cadets learned skills to assist them on an expedition.

The group completed a five-day trip, canoeing, mountain biking and hiking across the territory's tough terrain.

Fifty-two cadets were part of the expedition instructor course, a six-week program which teaches cadets skills to become instructors and team leaders.

They learned skills which assist them in completing a long-duration expedition. This year's group canoed 114 km, biked 239 km and hiked 52 km over 18 days this summer.

In Friday's graduation parade, the cadets marched in almost-perfect unison before lining up to be inspected by Peet.

As she walked between the immaculately formed rows, Peet spoke with several of the cadets, eliciting smiles from many of the young faces.

After inspection, the accomplishments of several cadets were recognized.

From the basic expedition course, Robert Harold, from Ft. Nelson, B.C., was recognized as the most improved cadet.

Cole Callander-Maclennan received the top cadet honours for his overall high standard in everything from dress to team work.

Several cadets from the expedition instructor class were recognized for how far they'd come over the last six weeks.

William Hurley, from Brantford, Ont., Conrad McLeod, from Inuvik, N.W.T., and Hadley Whitehead, from Lancashire, U.K., were all selected as the most improved cadets in their sections.

Wesley Riddell of Victoria and Chase Kilbourne, from Rodney, Ont., received the nod for being the most improved cadets in their platoons.

Others were recognized for their outstanding performance.

Tiffany Hordatt-Reece-Dunlop from Toronto, Remi Ares from St. Francois, Que., Jacob Ott from Bridgewater, N.S., and Liam Klawer from Abbottsford, B.C. all received top cadet honours for their section.

Cheyenne Radcliffe from Ft. St. John, B.C. and William Findlay from Northern Ireland received the top cadet nods for their platoons.

Eleanor Rowe was honoured as this year's top British exchange cadet. Rowe, from Glastonbury, U.K., beamed as she marched back to her position.

It was Lukas Normandeau from Oxbridge, Ont., who earned the afternoon's major honours, however.

Normandeau, who commanded the parade, was awarded both the Lieutenant-General J.E. Vance Award for Leadership and the ANAVET medal.

The J.E. Vance Award, administered by the national cadet office, is awarded to a cadet who shows leadership qualities, a willingness to accept duties and proves to be a good role model. Normandeau seemed to breathe a sigh of relief after receiving the honour.

The ANAVET medal is awarded to the top overall cadet for their achievement, motivation, co-operation with others, dress and decorum, among other criteria.

The recipients are a "very select group,” MacLeod said before announcing Normandeau as this year's recipient.

Those who receive the award can submit their names for a $1,000 bursary.

The cadets also had a chance to make a presentation of their own.

The two groups raised nearly $2,000 for the Food Bank Society of Whitehorse this summer. They also collected 1,500 lbs. of food for the organization.

The young cadets were able to present Stuart Mckay of the food bank with the funds last Friday.

The Northern Regional Cadet Supporting Unit is one of six cadets units across the country.

About 64,000 Canadian cadets train during the school year. Approximately 400 of them are in the North.

By Gemma Karstens-Smith

Star Reporter