May 26, 2023 FROM THE COMMANDING OFFICER MAJOR BRENT CROSS, CD

TO ALL CURRENT 820 SQUADRON MEMBERS:

***NEW PARADE LOCATION (AS OF 07 Mar 23):  St Francis Xavier HS,  1145 Bronte Street, S ***

2022/2023 Training Year:

UPDATE:  AS OF 27 Jan 2023 recruiting is closed for the training year and we are no longer admitting persons to the waiting list.  Those who remain on the original list will be given first priority in Sep when the new trg year begins (if they have not joined sooner if spaces open up).  New cadet registrations will take place in Sep 2023 for the 23/24 training year.  Tentative dates are 05 and 12 Sep - location still to be determined.

Note that the yearly assessment fee(s) is non-refundable once a cadet is processed in the system.

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SUMMER TRAINING 2023:  visit the Facebook group for a list of courses available and instructions on how to apply.

A NOTE REGARDING FEES:  click on the "About 820" menu option, then "Squadron Support Committee" (in the drop down menu) for more information.   $200 cash is the current yearly fee.

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New Communication Method:  effective June 28 2021,  Weekly Routine Orders (and all important Squadron information) will be sent out via a private Facebook Group.   CURRENT 820 Cadets/Parents/Guardians can request to join the group now by searching 820RCACS (no spaces) on Facebook and answering 3 security questions.  For those parents/guardians who do not want their cadets on social media, the responsibility will then fall to parents/guardians to retrieve the information and forward to their son or daughter.  This change in information distribution will ensure 100% communication for all relevant members of the 820 team.  If you want to be informed - join the FB group.  This will be the only form of official communication to cadets/parents/guardians moving forward.

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E-Mail:  if you need to contact one of the 820 staff members then you must first contact our Administration Officer Capt (Ret) Peter Cranley at:  [email protected].  He will then forward your inquiry to the appropriate staff member.  We do not have a phone number in use at this time.

EXCEPTION:  you may e-mail the Supply Officer (Capt Cameron) direct at: [email protected]

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TO PARENTS OF RETURNING CADETS:   If your child is a RETURNING CADET (FROM THE PREVIOUS TRAINING YEAR),   ANNUAL Validations will be completed "in person" (along with the payment of fees) in Sept of every year.  Questions/concerns can be sent to the  820 Administration Officer at [email protected].  If your cadet is not returning, please advise the AdminO via e-mail, who will then liaise with the Supply Officer for uniform return, and then proper release from the CCO.    If you are a TRANSFERRING CADET (from or to another Air, Sea, or Army unit) please e-mail the AdminO who will then forward your request/information to the appropriate authority for processing.  If you are transferring "out" all 820 issued kit must be returned before you can be released to the new unit.

TO PARENTS OF NEW RECRUITS: If your child is at least 12 years of age, but not yet 19, and is interested in becoming a cadet for the first time, click on the "Join Air Cadets" link for specific requirements and documents.   WE ARE CURRENTLY OVER  CAPACITY AND HAVE CLOSED ADMISSIONS FOR THIS TRAINING YEAR.  See above.

DO NOT USE THE "JOIN CADETS" FUNCTION ON THE CANADA.CA WEBSITE (nor the [email protected] e-mail address) as it is unreliable and is missing information.  Use only the information and forms provided via this website for new registrations (which MUST be completed/actioned/verified in person).

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UNIFORMS:   820 will have regular nights available for uniform upgrades/exchanges for both the new FTU uniform and the DEU dress uniform (all cadets will be issued both).  See also the 820RCACS Facebook group or the "Supply" link on the menu bar.   Capt Mike Cameron (the Supply Officer) can be reached at [email protected] for supply related issues only.  Please be patient...this is a VERY busy time of year and we have almost 50 new cadets to outfit.