Local cadets recently honed their seamanship skills aboard the MV Curve of Time.
Ten cadets of the Royal Canadian Sea Cadet Corps Fraser spent four days at sea, where they learned the fundamentals of seamanship during regular training nights.
From April 10 to 13, the cadets rotated through different stations, which saw them acting as lookout, helmsman, cook and navigator, as well as participating in a range of other training such as damage control to engine room rounds.
“It’s exciting to bring the classroom skills to life,” said Lt. Bryan Watson, commanding officer of the corps. “It’s great to see the look of accomplishment on the cadets’ faces as they plot their location and look out the windows to confirm that lighthouses and other features are where they would expect them to be based on the chart. You just can’t do that inside.”
Fraser Sea Cadets and its sponsor, the Navy League of Canada, are grateful for the support that the New Westminster business community has shown in delivering its training program.
“This sea time would not have been made possible without a $2,000 donation made by Amix Marine Services through its CEO, Willie Jackson,” stated a press release from Royal Canadian Sea Cadet Corps Fraser.
“It is wonderful to see the investment of local business in the development of future professional mariners, and we look forward to future partnerships as we deliver practical skills to youth in our community.”
Fraser Sea Cadets welcomes youth aged 12 to 18 to join. The corps trains every Wednesday night during the school year at 535 Derwent Way on Annacis Island.
For more information, go to www.joinseacadets.ca or call 604-525-2298.
Community mourns
Longtime New Westminster resident Steve McClurg recently passed away March 28 after a lengthy illness.
McClurg worked on provincial and federal NDP campaigns, was a founding director of Voice New Westminster and a city council candidate in 2008.
“Steve was very active in his community in many ways. He was very active in his community politically, and many of us became good friends with Steve and Sharon (Kurtz) as a result of their involvement in Voice New Westminster,” wrote Casey Cook on his blog. “We all appreciated his commitment, his knowledge and his wonderful sense of humor.”
