MOUNT FOREST – A local air cadet troop is remaining strong despite having less than two months to attract more volunteers before its doors close for good.
While Mount Forest volunteer and Hannover chair Debbie Fletcher said she was initially surprised and disappointed when she received a letter from the Air Cadets League of Canada last fall saying the Mount Forest Air Cadets were on probation for closure due to low volunteerism numbers, she remains confident the Mount Forest community will support them.
"Our dilemma is we've got the kids but we need the staff to man the program," said Fletcher. "This program is vibrant. This program is alive. We have kids. We just need people to help manage them."
The letter gave Troop 885 this training year, which runs from September to June, to see if they could attract more volunteers.
"I think when the community at large knows there's an issue, they rally and that's why I'm heartened by this whole process," said Fletcher. "As discouraging as it was to get that letter, to me it was a challenge."
Despite having more than 20 recruits in the troop, Fletcher said they have approximately five volunteers if she includes herself.
Ideally, the group is aiming for six to 12 volunteers total.
According to the township's manager of community and economic development Mandy Jones, the group recently received $1,000 from the township to support 75 per cent of the cost of newspaper, radio and print material advertising for the cadet's volunteer recruitment efforts.
"I know it's not just us (struggling to find volunteers). I appreciate that," said Fletcher. "But it's an ongoing struggle and we're not sure what the magic trick is to get people interested in coming in and helping us."
If the program does close, Fletcher said kids who want to continue participating in cadets would likely be expected to join a neighbouring squadron.
There are currently three Air Cadet troops in Guelph and Wellington County: the 895 in Mount Forest, the 242 squadron in Erin and the 121 Red Arrows in Guelph.
"So it would probably be a 30 km distance or more for kids and in some cases that will just mean kids won't get to go to cadets," said Fletcher. "(And if) we're moving them out of the community, to me the community would lose a lot because we do participate in (a lot of events)...everybody loves to see the cadets they really do."
Fletcher started volunteering for the air cadets 12 years ago because she felt it was important to offer her time to help maintain the program her son "loved so much."
Former air cadet, Commanding Officer Captain Cynthia Comeau said she finds it rewarding to teach, interact and get to know the kids as they grow from 12 to 19.
"It's not hard to recruit kids because the program costs parents nothing and there's so much that we offer to the children," said Fletcher. "There are just so many kids that don't get opportunities because things cost so much money and here they can have everything."
Since Christmas, Fletcher said they've recruited one volunteer and have another in the wings. They've also handed out several volunteer forms to parents who have expressed interest which Fletcher called "a start."
Looking to the future, Fletcher said she's confident the troop will "pull up their socks" and prove Squadron 895 belongs in Mount Forest.
"I don't want people to be discouraged because change is slow," said Fletcher. "(But) I'm sure in the next two months...we're going to pass with flying colours. I have no doubt."
A decision on the troop's closure will occur in June.
Isabel Buckmaster is the Local Journalism Initiative reporter for GuelphToday. LJI is a federally-funded program.
