Lieut. Navy Jennifer Hartley is feeling a lot like mission accomplished these days.
The commanding officer of the 184 Royal Canadian Sea Cadet Corps Curling had a simple goal when she took over her hometown corps two years ago — leave it in a better position than she acquired it. It was simple sounding, just not necessarily easy to achieve.
The Corner Brook woman, who joined cadets at the age of 12, took command of the corps during a time of declining enrolment. It is an issue facing many organizations, especially throughout the province, but one Hartley would not accept.
In 2011, about 35 cadets regularly paraded on routes, she said. That is a number some of the smaller corps in the province would be proud of, but it was far lower than numbers typical of the Corner Brook squad.
She also wanted to see an increase in the seven officers primarily involved at the time.
Hartley set out to get the corps more involved in and known throughout the community. The corps is about much more than drill and a uniform, she said Thursday while addressing the Rotary Club of Corner Brook.
The corps participated in such events as the Forget-Me-Not Gala and Campus Connect. They developed their own posters and brochures, and increased their social media presence. They partnered with local schools, promoting the corps through curriculum nights and having a “survival day” at Humber Elementary.
The corps held an open house at the beginning of this year and about 20 new cadets signed up. They now have 45-50 cadets regularly parading and eight uniformed officers, along with five others awaiting enrolment.
The goal has since changed to retention.
Hartley said the new focus is on ensuring every cadet has all opportunities — locally, provincially, and nationally — available to them, noting there are scholarships and training available across the country.
There is also an effort to make the program fun, while keeping the sense of professionalism it has always been known for, she said.
The local corps was recently named “top corps” in the province by the Navy League of Canada Newfoundland and Labrador Division. The first place proficiency award was credit to the work of all 16 staff, according to the commanding officer, but acknowledgment of what they have accomplished.
“When a year ends, you sometimes are like, ‘yeah, it was a good year,’” Hartley said.
“It just ends and you prepare for the next year ... it’s nice to be recognized for it.”
In conjunction with the award, its sponsor, the Rotary Club of Corner Brook, received the Top Sponsor Award. The local rotary club has sponsored the sea cadet corps since its inception in 1962.
