2784 Governor General's Foot Guards Army Cadets


The 2784 Governor General's Foot Guards Army Cadets is an Ottawa based paramilitary youth program jointly-sponsored by the Canadian Forces and the Army Cadet League of Canada. The cadets, as their name implies, are affiliated with the Governor General's Foot Guards, which is one of three Royal Household Division regiments in the Canadian Army. As an affiliated unit, the cadets may wear the badges of the GGFG. The cadet corps currently parade at Cartier Square Drill Hall on Wednesday evenings from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM alongside their GGFG counterparts and The Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa.

Background

The GGFG Cadet Company was founded by Major Harold Blackman in September 1965. It was formed under the sponsorship of the Governor General's Foot Guards Regiment and has continued to parade with the regiment.  The Kiwanis Club of Ottawa became the Sponsor of the cadet corps beginning in the late 1990s thru to 2016, as a result of the negotiations between the club and former commanding officer, Major Robert Barrette. The Corps also maintains a good sponsor affiliation with the Royal Canadian Legion's Strathcona Branch 595. The corps also has had a past affiliation with Royal Canadian Legion Eastview Branch 462. The Corps is currently searching for new sponsorships that are being coordinated by the Army Cadet League Liasion Officer.

Summer Camps

The cadet corps provides free summer camp course for cadets who wish to receive training during the summer. The General Training Course only applies to cadets who have completed their first training year, and includes activities such as a field exercise, team-building, air-rifle range, adventure training, and recreational sports. The corps also provides a ceremonial training course for those who wish to learn basic drill requirements and the fundamentals of Canadian marching drill. The two course are two and three weeks long respectively.