Home CFB Borden Cadets Junior Canadian Rangers from Ontario impress at national leadership event

Junior Canadian Rangers from Ontario impress at national leadership event

The five Junior Canadian Rangers from Northern Ontario who attended the national leadership course in Quebec were, from left, Madden Taylor of Constance Lake, Thunder O’Keese of Kasabonika Lake, Ryan Kakekaspan of Fort Severn, Summer Southwind of Lac Seul, and McCartney Beardy of North Caribou Lake. (Photo credit: Sergeant Steven Botelho, Canadian Rangers) | Les cinq Rangers juniors canadiens du nord de l’Ontario qui ont participé au cours national de leadership au Québec, de gauche à droite : Madden Taylor du Constance Lake, Thunder O’Keese du Kasabonika Lake, Ryan Kakekaspan du Fort Severn, Summer Southwind du Lac Seul et McCartney Beardy du North Caribou Lake. (Photo : Sergent Steven Botelho, Rangers canadiens)

The hunting and outdoor survival skills of five Junior Canadian Rangers from Northern Ontario made an impression on Junior Rangers from across Canada at a national leadership training event in Quebec.

“Their outdoor skills impressed,” said Sergeant Steven Botelho, a Junior Ranger instructor who accompanied the five to the event. “They passed their skills along and it was nice to see them doing it.”

The five representing Ontario at the  event were among 36 top Junior Rangers who completed an eight- day annual leadership course, called the National Leadership Enhanced Training Session, at Canadian Forces Base Valcartier, just north of Quebec City. The Junior Rangers is a Canadian Army program for youth aged 12 to 18 living in remote and isolated communities across the Canadian North.

The five were McCartney Beardy of North Caribou Lake, Ryan Kakekaspan of Fort Severn, Thunder O’Keese of Kasabonika Lake, Summer Southwind of Lac Seul, and Madden Taylor of Constance Lake.

“They all enjoyed their time and they all learned something new about leadership skills that they can take back to their communities.” Sergeant Botelho said. “They had a good time and they learned a lot.”

The training included instruction in classrooms and in the outdoors. They were kept busy for eight days.

 Outdoor events included a challenging but fun zip line, shooting, canoeing, a visit to a bowling alley, a shopping mall, and one to the cultural centre at the Huron Wendat First Nation.

A highlight of the training was a two-day canoe trip on the spectacular Jacques-Cartier River in Jacques-Cartier National Park, 50 kilometers north of Quebec City. It included challenging portages, negotiating white water rapids, and working together.

Junior Ranger McCartney Beardy takes aim with an air rifle during a national leadership training course. (Photo credit: Sergeant Steven Botelho, Canadian Rangers)

“It was the best thing we did,” said McCartney Beardy, whose canoe partner was a Junior Ranger from Nunavut. “Connecting with her was great. We talked about our different backgrounds, how we hunted, and how we lived differently. We learned from each other.”

The Junior Rangers from Ontario and those from elsewhere in Canada encountered, some for the first time, living with the French language. 

“Yes, I wasn’t used to it,” McCartney said. “I found it fascinating to find out how different some lives were to mine.”

“The kids helped each other in communicating with Junior Rangers who either could not speak English well or spoke no English,” Sergeant Botelho said. “It was nice to see. It was all part of their learning process.” 

By: Peter Moon

Sergeant Peter Moon is a Canadian Ranger with the 3rd Canadian Ranger Patrol Group at Canadian Forces Base Borden.