The Bradford Branch 521 of the Royal Canadian Legion has been working with the Air Cadet League of Canada on a new project: to bring a branch of Air Cadets to Bradford.

It’s an initiative that has the full support of the Ontario Provincial Committee of the Air Cadet League.

“We’re so excited that the Bradford Legion has stepped forward to provide this opportunity to hundreds of young men and women, to get the life instruction… that they won’t get anywhere else,” said L.Col. Ferguson Mobbs (Retired), Governor of the Ontario Provincial Committee.

The Air Cadets program provides instruction, leadership training, gliding experiences, and much more to girls and boys between the ages of 12 and 18 – and can lead to a career in aviation, or the military. “Approximately 10% of the cadets that graduate go on to the military,” Mobbs noted.

Currently, Bradford West Gwillimbury youth must travel to Newmarket to participate in Air Cadets, with the 94 Newmarket Squadron. The new initiative will provide the opportunity locally, with plans to meet at Bradford District High school.

“It’s a growing community here,” said Bradford Legionnaire and former air cadet, George Nielson. “It’s necessary for us to do this for Bradford.”

“We’re excited,” said Legion President, Mike Giovanetti, noting that not only will the initiative provide new opportunities and an introduction into the military for local Youth, it will raise the profile of the Legion in the community. The Bradford Legion will sponsor the new Air Cadet squadron, providing financial support and space for a Cadet command post at the Legion property on Back St.

The only thing needed now is public interest. At 30 names are needed, expressing interest, before the project can proceed. Families interested in signing up their young people for the new Air Cadet Squadron in Bradford are asked to contact Mobbs at destry40@rogers.com, with their name and phone number. It’s an expression of interest only; there is no commitment.

For more information on Air Cadets, see www.aircadetleague.on.ca.

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The Bradford West Gwillimbury & District Community Foundation is a volunteer, not-for-profit organization that has one goal: to build a foundation, through donations, gifts and bequests, that will provide a sustainable source of grants to the community – to charities, sports groups, school projects, and other activities in BWG.

Now it’s planning to reach out to schools, in both the Public and Catholic School system, and ask the kids: Who would you give $1000?

The idea is that over the course of a month, school kids will be asked to vote online, at www .bwgdcf.ca – choosing a favourite deserving charity or organization from the list provided by the Foundation, or sugg

esting a charity not on the list.

The Helping Hand Food Bank. The Community Meal. Community Gardens. The Hub youth centre. Sports groups. Arts groups. The Wishing Well animal sanctuary. Southlake Regional Health Centre. Anywhere that the money could be used to build a better, more vibrant community.

“Instead of us thinking who we should give the money to, we get the schools involved,” says Hernan Burgos. “The idea is to get the children talking to their parents about this. It’s a lesson in giving.”

It’s also a competition. Not only will the kids select which not-for-profit gets the $1000, the school that has the highest percentage turnout in its voting will receive $500 for their own projects.

Right now, the Community Foundation is contacting the School Boards for permission to bring the “lesson in giving” to the schools. Click Here to Vote