OLDS — It’s been a pretty strange spring for members of the Olds Air Cadet Squadron No. 185.
Due to the COVID-19 lockdown, they haven’t been able to gather and celebrate their accomplishments through events like their annual inspection.
It had been scheduled for May 28 but was later cancelled. So instead, officers plan to announce the winners on their Facebook page.
Mindy Focker, chair of the organization, says 13 awards and two medals will be announced. As of last week, the precise date of that presentation had not yet been determined.
She said at the moment, it doesn’t look like the cadet squadron will gather in person again until at least this fall.
Focker is currently adding names to trophies. The hope is those who won trophies can receive keeper plaques during the fall ceremony.
Focker said to her knowledge, the stand down is unique in the squadron’s history.
“This is the first time in Olds Air Cadets -- 77 years, I believe -- any of the cadets have had to shut down for the whole summer,” she said. “We just want to keep the kids safe; that’s our first priority.”
“There’s not much going on,” Focker said. “Through the cadet program, we are trying to keep them busy through online, but they’re online for everything else – for school and stuff too.”
“It seems like it’s just day-to-day. So you hear one thing and then it changes, right? So we’ll see what happens.”
Before the lockdown occurred three students received scholarships. Flight Sgt. Zach Taylor obtained the power pilot scholarship. Flight Sgt. Sophie Anning was presented with the airport maintenance scholarship and Sgt. Wyatt Taylor obtained the airport operations scholarship.
However, because of the lockdown, none of those students were able to attend those courses.
Focker said plans call for cadets who are aging out to be recognized in the fall.
“I spoke to the officers, because you know, it’s a big deal to stand up there and say goodbye to your squadron,” she said, adding it’s doubly hard for some of those youth who are aging out because they also graduate from high school this year.
“I mean, it’s just a hard year for them,” she said. “But you know, a lot of them are staying positive.”
