Youth receives gold Duke of Edinburgh's award

A member of the 185 Royal Canadian Air Cadet Squadron in Olds has received the gold Duke of Edinburgh's award - the highest level available in the award.

Warrant officer first class Ryland Sturrock, 18, received that award during a ceremony March 2 at the Air Cadet Hall. On hand for the presentation was Red Deer-Mountain View MP Earl Dreeshen, who also conducted an inspection of cadets.

Sturrock is the son of Colleen and Capt. Andrew Sturrock.

The program contains bronze, silver and gold levels. Participants must learn new skills, achieve physical fitness, go on an adventurous journey and - to obtain the gold award - participate in a residential project.

Colleen is very proud of her son's accomplishment.

"He's put a lot of effort and work into the Duke of Edinburgh's program over the last few years," she says.

"He started in the program when he was 13. He did the bronze level, the silver level and he completed his gold level with a four-day adventurous journey in the Kananaskis this past June."

Colleen says the program is a great one because it promotes the same objectives and values that the cadet program does.

Ryland is pleased to have received the award.

"It's really cool. It gives me a sense of self pride. I really enjoyed all the work I've done in that program, the community service. And now, throughout the program I've built my physical fitness," he says.

"It's really opened my eyes to the whole work ethic; what you can achieve, even if it's say, 10 minutes a day or a couple of minutes."

Ryland has now reached the age where he must graduate from cadets.

He has been considering whether to go into the military in the future but for the moment, plans to become a millwright.

"Personally, I've debated on it. If civilian life doesn't really work out then absolutely I am going to join the military. But on the same note there, I hope that my civilian life works out," Ryland says.