Chief Warrant Officer William Donohue salutes Gen. Wayne Eyre as the parade passes by Canada's chief of the defence staff on June 19, 2023 at Patterson Armoury. (Photo Courtesy Kevin Kyle)

By Chris Brown

‘Sky’s the limit’: army cadets learn about discipline, leadership and potential

Jun 20, 2023 | 4:59 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – Chief Warrant Officer William Donohue is ending his cadet career, six and a half years after it started.

Donohue and close to 50 fellow members of 2313 South Alberta Light Horse (Kiwanis) Royal Canadian Army Cadet Corps were inspected at the Patterson Armoury on Monday by one of their own.

Gen. Wayne Eyre was named Canada’s chief of the defence staff in February 2021, four decades after he was in the very same shoes and uniforms and Donohue and his classmates. Eyre was a member of the local army cadet corps from 1980-1984.

“It’s a huge honour for the corps getting one of our alumni to come back, especially one that’s made it as far as this,” Donohue said following the annual ceremonial review.

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The cadet program in Canada is designed to develop and prepare youth for adulthood by teaching and instilling the values needed to meet the challenges they’ll face.

Eyre says as he walked the ranks and spoke with the cadets he was inspired by their enthusiasm and their desire to be there. He wants to inspire them in return.

“The message I would give to these cadets is the sky is the limit,” Eyre said. “They have tremendous potential and I ask them to live up to that potential in whatever endeavour that they pursue.”

Master Cpl. Lillian Morris is finishing her third year in cadets and says the people and the experiences have been her favourite part. She plans to stay in cadets until she ages out at 19. She’s considering joining the reserves then while she studies to become a teacher.

She says cadets taught her about her self-worth.

“Definitely regaining confidence in myself, being able to speak in front of a crowd, being able to lead others in a way that impacts their lives positively and just recognizing the potential that I have in our community,” Morris said.

Morris believes many youths would benefit from being in cadets in the same way she has.

“One of the main goals of the cadet program whether you’re army, air or sea is teaching Canadian youth that they do have potential,” she said.

Master Cpl. Lillian Morris, Chief Warrant Officer William Donohue and Gen. Wayne Eyre at Patterson Armoury on June 19, 2023. (Photo Courtesy Kevin Kyle)

The military could play a bigger role in Donohue’s future. He plans to play another couple of years with the Chilliwack Valley Huskers in the Canadian Junior Football League before joining the 3rd Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry in the Canadian Armed Forces.

He says the discipline, teamwork and leadership skills he’s learned in cadets have served him on the football field and in life. With all that now ingrained inside him, Donohue is ready for anything.

“The sky’s the limit,” he says, echoing Eyre’s message.

Maybe he’ll follow Eyre and be imparting that same wisdom to a new class four decades from now.