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Squadron advisor honoured with Governor General's award

Darlene LaRoche received the Sovereign's Medal for Volunteers and Lifetime Membership with the Air Cadet League of Canada last month.
Darlene Laroche 9958
Darlene Laroche stands for a portrait on Nov. 7 with the Sovereign's Medal for Volunteers. Laroche was recognized for her work as the Air Cadet League of Canada squadron advisor for the 187 Foothills Royal Canadian Air Cadet Squadron. (BRENT CALVER/Western Wheel)

What started out as a desire for more information became a lifelong passion for one of Canada’s latest recipients of the Sovereign’s Medal for Volunteers.

Darlene LaRoche, who currently serves as Air Cadet League of Canada’s advisor for the 187 Foothills Royal Canadian Air Cadet Squadron, was honoured with the medal last month.

It was based on her 27 years of service to the Air Cadet League, which began when she became a cadet mom in 1993 – when her son, Christopher, joined the 187.

“It’s something that I truly get great joy from doing, helping young people focus and reach their dreams,” said LaRoche. “I see them come in at 12 and then I watch them go out just before they turn 19, and from the start to the finish the progression and the skills they learn and the leadership, it’s incredible.”

She first joined the Squadron Sponsoring Committee (SSC) for 187 Foothills because she found it difficult to rely on her 12-year-old son for information in the pre-Internet era. The role of secretary was vacant, and as a legal secretary by day she decided it would be a good fit.

Then she was hooked.

Over the course of her son’s time with the squadron, LaRoche worked her way up through the ranks of the SSC before taking on roles with the Air Cadet League at the provincial level for 10 years. Then she was asked to become national governor, and soon went on to become vice-president.

It was around that time her husband retired, and LaRoche realized she didn’t have much time at home with him with cadet commitments, so she made one of the most difficult decisions of her life – she resigned from her post. With that resignation she took on a role closer to home, becoming the advisor for the 187 Foothills.

Coming back to the Foothills wasn’t a hardship.

“I get the best joy from being with the cadets and with the families that are trying to do stuff right on the front lines,” said LaRoche. “I get the most satisfaction from that.”

Her Sovereign’s Medal was accompanied by a second honour bestowed by the Air Cadet League – a lifetime membership to the organization, which she said is the highest recognition a volunteer can receive from the League.

The two awards were based on more than just time spent with air cadets. LaRoche accomplished some lofty goals during her time on provincial and national boards.

For instance, she was instrumental in bringing an international exchange tour out west. Previously, international air cadets would visit Canada and tour Ontario and Quebec, but LaRoche fought to have them travel through the rest of Canada as well.

She planned the first three 4,000-kilometre summer tours through Alberta.

Now, the tour changes locations every three years so all regions of Canada get the chance to shine.

“One of the things for the medal is it needs to bring honour to Canada, and I did that by doing the co-ordination of that,” said LaRoche.

In addition, she planned the very first HART Ceremony, which brings more than 250 Canadian air cadets and American Civil Air Patrol Cadets together in Lethbridge to honour the families and mothers of fallen soldiers with the presentation of Christmas wreaths.

“It’s heart-wrenching,” said LaRoche. “We’re honouring the parents of those who died. It really brings home what we do for citizenship.”

She has also worked on mock scholarship boards for 25 years, which prepare air cadets for the panel they face when applying for opportunities and scholarships based on their cadet merits.

“I make it so the hardest board they have is in front of me, so when they go to the actual boards it’s a little easier – but they still work really hard for it,” said LaRoche.

Seeing young cadets succeed is her favourite part of volunteering with the program.

Being in air cadets has a profound impact and equips teens with vital life skills, she said.

“They’re civic-minded, they’re physically fit, they’re polite, they have good work ethic,” said LaRoche. “These are a lot of the skills that are needed in adult life and it puts them far ahead of their peers.”

It does the same for many parents, she said. They become more civic-minded and volunteer-oriented by virtue of helping their cadets through the program.

Though there isn’t a registration fee for air cadets, parents are expected to contribute with fundraising efforts and support the squadron whenever possible, she said.

“You watch them focus on fundraising, not just for their own kid’s benefit but for the whole squadron’s benefit,” said LaRoche. “These are good growing spurts even for adults – and I’m still growing, even after 27 years.”

She said for many cadets, the program offers a safe space free from judgment. It doesn’t matter what economic or social background a teen comes from, everyone is equal, wearing the same uniform, being treated with respect and giving respect in return.

“In some cases for some cadets it’s a refuge, because they know they’re going to be treated fairly whereas maybe they’re being bullied at school,” said LaRoche. “There is zero tolerance for that, and that’s the way it should be.”

The greatest benefit of the cadet program is the learning and opportunities given to young people. Though not expected, some do continue on to join the military and have a leg up because they understand drill and protocols, she said.

LaRoche said she’s proud to serve the air cadet program and was surprised to be rewarded for her work.

“I don’t do this for the awards, I do it for the cadets,” she said. “It’s all joy. Yeah, it’s work, and sometimes I have sleepless nights and I get up and I’m doing things at 2 a.m. and I wonder, why am I doing this?

“Then I think of a cadet that said to me, ‘Thank you, Ma’am,’ and that’s why.

“I’m a lifer. I truly am.”

For more information on the 187 Foothills Air Cadets visit the squadron on Facebook.

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