Featured Squadron of the Month
205 Collishaw Squadron
Squadron Name: 205 Collishaw Squadron
Chartered: November 12, 1942
Status: Active
Community: Nanaimo, BC
Squadron History
Like many other squadrons in Canada, 205 Nanaimo Squadron (original name) received its charter in 1942 soon after the formation of the Air Cadet League of Canada. Squadron numbers at that time (i.e. – 205) all ran in numerical order, regardless of geographical location. On November 12, 1942, 205 Squadron was chartered under its first Commanding Officer, Flying Officer Jack Fouracres. The first inspection parade was held in the Nanaimo Arena.
The first sponsoring body for the squadron was the Nanaimo School Board of Trustees with the squadron parading in the John Shaw High School on Franklyn Street, Nanaimo. Around 1945/1946 the Lions Club assisted by the Rotary Club of Nanaimo took over the Civilian sponsorship of the Squadron. This responsibility was later taken over by independent parent groups and other interested citizens. Some, and later most, of the squadron’s finances during this period came from United Appeal funds.
In 1974, 808 Thunderbird Wing of the Royal Canadian Air Force Association assumed the Civilian sponsorship of 205 Nanaimo Squadron providing the squadron with the LHQ it currently occupies at 719 Nanaimo Lks Road, Nanaimo BC.
In 1966, a group of young ladies from the Nanaimo area became interested in Air Cadet Training. They approached the 808 Thunderbird Wing to request they be sponsored as Cadettes and become an integral part of the squadron. Because the Air Cadet League of Canada’s mandate did not include female cadets, the 808 Wing independently sponsored these young ladies under strict supervision. They permitted them to train with 205 Nanaimo Squadron, thus obtaining the skills required to make them a well-disciplined cadet group. These Cadettes will be remembered for their colorful kilts of first BC Tartan (then RCAF Tartan), white shirts and blue blazers. After July, 30, 1975, the date Bill C-16 received Royal Assent, girls were officially integrated into the Air Cadet program allowing them to wear the regulation blue uniform of the Canadian Forces, as worn by all air cadets and supplied by the Department of National Defense.
One person of note whose individual generous contributions of time and expertise over his 41 years of affiliation to 205 Collishaw Squadron, impacted the moulding of not only the history of the squadron but the future careers of thousands of young Nanaimo cadet is Capt. Roy Herrington (Retd).
Capt. Herrington started his affiliation with the Air Cadet program in 1966 as an Air Cadet with 676 Kittyhawk Squadron in Sidney BC. Here he qualified for and earned his private pilot wings while honing his musical skill as a trumpet player in the squadron band. After aging out and moving to Nanaimo, in 1977 he joined the CIC (Cadet Instructor Cadre) branch of the DND as an officer Cadet with 205 Collishaw. While working his way up the ranks of the CIC he took courses in technical shooting, Band instructing, Outdoor Survival, Abseiling and Orienteering. He also took courses through his civilian job with Telus that assisted him in his leadership role in the Air Cadet Program. Roy served two terms as the Commanding officer of 205 Collishaw Squadron before his retirement from the CIC in 2018.
In 2003 Capt. Roy Herrington was awarded the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Medal for his contributions to the city and Youth of Nanaimo BC.
In 1992 the Squadron name was changed to 205 Collishaw Squadron in recognition of Nanaimo born WWI/WWII air hero, Air Vice Marshal Raymond Collishaw.
On November 12, 2022, 205 Collishaw RCACS of Nanaimo proudly celebrated its 80th Year of serving and supporting the city of Nanaimo. 80 years of providing the youth of Nanaimo with training in all aspects of the Aviation Industry. Flying, Gliding, Aircraft maintenance, Airport Operations, to name a few. Cadets are offered opportunities to participate in Effective speaking training, Music, Range, First aid, The Duke of Edinburgh Program, and International Air Cadet Exchange travel. Cadets are also given the opportunity to earn up to 12 High School credits along with National and Provincial scholarships and bursaries to go towards their High School Graduation and post secondary education.
At 205 Collishaw Squadron, none of this would have been possible without the generous support the squadron receives from their Corporate Sponsors: 808 Thunderbird Wing, Royal Canadian Air Force Association, Royal Canadian Legion #10 (Nanaimo), Royal Canadian Legion #191 (Chemainus), Royal Canadian Legion #256 (Mount Benson), Royal Canadian Legion #257 (Lantzville) and the volunteer support of the Cadet parents serving on the Squadron Sponsoring Committee.
Commanding Officers
205 Nanaimo High School Squadron 1942 – 1946
| Dates | Commanding Officers |
|---|---|
| 1942 – 1946 | FO Jack Fouracres |
Commanding Officers
205 Nanaimo Squadron 1947 – 1992
| Dates | Commanding Officers | Dates | Commanding Officers |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1946 – 1949 | FO Jack Fouracres | 1949 – 1951 | FO Roy Thorsteinson |
| 1951 – 1959 | FL Jack Neil | 1959 – 1965 | S/L Lew Davies |
| 1965 – 1973 | FL Norm Bain | 1973 – 1974 | Capt Norm Swanson |
| 1974 – 1978 | Maj John Quarnstorm | 1978 – 1979 | Capt Norm Swanson |
| 1979 – 1982 | Major John Cooper | 1982 – 1984 | Lt Paddy Paddison |
| 1984 – 1987 | Capt John Barr | 1987 – 1990 | Capt Jim P Easton, MMM, CD |
Commanding Officers
205 Collishaw Squadron 1992 – Present
| Dates | Commanding Officers | Dates | Commanding Officers |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 – 1993 | Capt Doug Slowski, CD | 1993 – 1996 | Maj Roy Herrington, CD |
| 1996 – 1999 | Maj Joseph Stevens, CD | 1999 – 2001 | Capt Gerrit Loeffen |
| 2001 | Capt Joseph Stevens, CD | 2001 – 2005 | Maj Roy Herrington, CD |
| 2005 – 2008 | Maj Richard Mudryk, CD | 2008 -2011 | Capt Susan Morgan, CD |
| 2011 | Capt William Dornan | 2011-2013 | Capt William (Bil) Derby |
| 2013-2016 | Capt George Ruscoff, CD | 2016-2018 | Capt Cortnee Morgan, CD |
| 2018-2022 | Capt Tamara Edwards, CD | 2022- | Capt David Ruel |
Sponsoring Committee Chairs
205 Collishaw Squadron 1992 – Present
| Dates | Committee Chairs | Dates | Committee Chairs |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 – 1993 | Mr. J Keltie | 1994-1995 | Mr. B Fergusson |
| 1995-1997 | Mr. Rick Higgins | 1998 | Mr. Dave Tyler |
| 1999 | Mr. Glenn Cox | 2000-2001 | Mrs. K McDonald |
| 2002 | Mrs. Theresa Gustafson | 2003 | Mrs. Valli Bajan |
| 2004-2006 | Mr. Harry Cubbage | 2007 | Mrs. Doreen Stinson |
| 2008 | Mrs. Marilyn Rodgers | 2009 | Mr. Bill Shook |
| 2010 | Ms Kelly Olynyk | 2011-2012 | Mr. Gerry Derksen |
| 2013-2014 | Mr. Neil Cyr | 2015 | Mr. Chris Jaeger |
| 2016 | Mr. Chris Jaeger then Mr. David Ruel | 2017 | Mr. David Ruel then Mr. James Van Domselaar |
| 2018 | Mr. James Van Domselaar | 2019-2022 | Ms. Grace Dean |
| 2023-2024 | Capt (retired) Gerrit Loeffen |
Cadet Commanders
2015 Collishaw Squadron 1992 – Present
| Dates | Cadet Commanders | Dates | Cadet Commanders |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 – | WO1 Large | 1993 | |
| 1994 | WO1 Clayton (Jan94) and | 1995 | WO1 A Farrow |
| 1996 | WO1 J Battie and J Martin | 1997 | WO1 R Marsden and S. Seykora |
| 1998 | WO1 Olga Canlas | 1999 | WO1 Olivia Canlas |
| 2000 | WO1 Nancy Wong | 2001 | WO1 Cortnee Morgan |
| 2002 | WO1 Jordan LaBossiere | 2003 | WO1 Seamus O’Connell |
| 2004 | WO1 Tim Hou | 2005 | WO1 Michal Rafa, WO1 Aaron LaBossiere |
| 2006 | WO1 Robert Gagliano, WO1 Aaron Tuba | 2007 | WO1 Mitchell Lehman |
| 2008 | WO1 Jessie Lublinkhof | 2009 | WO1 Travis Shook |
| 2010 | WO1 Dhruva Nathan | 2011 | WO2 Casey Lublinkhof |
| 2012 | WO1 Sarah Lumley | 2013 | WO2 Rebecca Lumley |
| 2014 | WO2 William Groundwater | 2015 | WO2 Jacob Campbell |
| 2016 | WO1 Joshua Lumley | 2017 | WO1 Alex Dempsey |
| 2018 | WO1 Leo Shin | 2019 | WO2 Landon Van Domselaar |
| 2020 | WO1 Austin Elzinga | 2021 | WO2 Myles Tayor AND WO2 River Reid (covid COHORTS) |
| 2022 | WO1 River Reid | 2023 | WO1 River Reid, WO1 Joseph Clemotte |
Reviewing Officers
2015 Collishaw Squadron 1992 – Present
| Date | Reviewing Officers | Date | Reviewing Officers |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | Maj U. Jaggi, CD | 1993 | LCol Thomas R Byrne CD |
| 1994 | Col Finn A. Knutsen, MSC, CD (Ret’d) | 1995 | Maj Chuck Fast, CD |
| 1996 | Brig. Gen. K.O. Simonson, CD (Retired) | 1997 | Maj D.G. Crocker, CD |
| 1998 | Maj J.W. Stevens, CD | 1999 | Brig Gen (Retired) Barry D. Bowen, CD |
| 2000 | Maj Gen (Retired) Scott Eichel, CD | 2001 | LCol Thomas R. Byrne, CD |
| 2002 | LGen (Retired) Brian Smith, CD | 2003 | LCol Colin Goodman, CD |
| 2004 | LCol Francois Gaboury, CD | 2005 | LCol Paul Ormsby, CD |
| 2006 | LCol Doug Slowski, CD | 2007 | LCol Doug Slowski, CD |
| 2008 | Superintendent Jeff Lott, OIC, Nanaimo RCMP | 2009 | Mayor John Ruttan |
| 2010 | LCol Doug Slowski, CD | 2011 | R/Adm Greenwood N.S., OMM, CD |
| 2012 | Maj Aaron Macluskie, CD | 2013 | Maj Ab Jagat, CD |
| 2014 | Maj Carrie Johnston, CD | 2015 | LCol Glenn Watters, CD |
| 2016 | Maj Allan Thompson, CD | 2017 | Mr Mike Hooper, Nanaimo Airport Commission |
| 2018 | Commander Scott McVicar, SSM, CD | 2019 | Commander Brad Henderson, CD |
| 2020 | Mayor Len Krog | 2021 | Maj Ryan Kean, CD |
| 2022 | Maj (Retired) Len Campbell, CD | 2023 | LS (Retired) Lewis Forth |
Our sincere thanks to Ms. Allison Haapala for her contributions to our November 2023 Squadron of the Month Feature.
More detailed and current information about 205 Collishaw Squadron can be found on their website at https://www.205collishaw.com