Featured Squadron of the Month
525 Pathfinder Squadron
Chartered: November 25, 1950
Status: Active
Community: West Vancouver, BC
Squadron History:
2025 – Celebrating 75 years of providing Canada’s Premier Youth Development Training for the youth of West Vancouver!
In the Spring of 1950, five years after the No. 244 West Vancouver High School Air Cadet Squadron was disbanded, Mr. Dave Brown, a local businessman and former RCAF Flight Lieutenant decided to restore an air Cadet Squadron to the community of West Vancouver.
Together with a local businessman, Mr. Norm Scott, and sponsorship from the West Vancouver Lion’s Club, an application to form 525 “Lions” Air Cadet Squadron was submitted to the Air Cadet League of Canada and RCAF.
The Charter to form 525 Lions Air Cadet Squadron was approved and signed on November 25, 1950.
The first Squadron CO was FO. Ken Morton. FO Morton quickly assembled a team of officers and instructors to carry out training. A Squadron Sponsoring Committee was established by its first Chairman, Mr. J. Stewart. The Squadron’s first headquarters were at St. Christopher’s Church at 11th and Inglewood. On Friday, January 19, 1951, 25 teens enrolled to become 525 Lions Squadron’s first Cadets. That number doubled to 50 by the next training night on Thursday January 25, 1951. By 1955, the Squadron was now parading at the Ambleside Headquarters Army Huts and its enrollment rose to 70 Cadets.
In 1975, the Squadron moved to St. David’s United Church. In the early 1980s, they moved again to the Inglewood Community Centre. Our research showed that it was sometime during the mid to late 1980s that the Squadron’s name was changed to 525 Pathfinder RCACS. The renamed 525 Panther RCAC Squadron prospered at the Inglewood Community Centre for many years, at one point being among the largest Squadrons in BC. The Squadron’s programs were varied and numerous, and attendance at Air Cadet summer camps was high.
In the early 1990s, the Inglewood Community Centre was closed and 525 was without a home for nearly a year. After a short respite in the Capilano Gun Club (the original army hut LHQ, now the Ambleside Youth Centre), 525 was offered free accommodation at Collingwood School until the fall of 2000. After moving to two other locations during the following ten years, in 2010, 525 Squadron moved to St. Anthony’s School. This has been the Squadron’s home ever since.
Fast forward to 2025, Under the Command of Capt. Melanie Williams and her Staff of officers and with the dedicated support of the 525 Squadron Sponsoring Committee Chair Jories Timmers and his Committee of volunteer members, 525 Pathfinder Squadron supports a Marching Band, Drill Team, Survival Training, Ground School, Computerized Aircraft Simulation Center, Model Airplane Club, Effective Speaking Training, Marksmanship Team and many more activities. They also participate in weekend practices and competitions.
While Air Cadets are supervised by officers of the Cadet Instructors Cadre, a component of the Canadian Forces reserve who are specially trained to work with youth, specially trained civilians are also active in the Air Cadet program. Most of the actual Cadet instruction is provided by senior Cadets who have been in the program for a few years.
Some of the most memorable experiences for Cadets are the opportunities they have to participate in summer camps. Each year, Cadets have the opportunity to apply for summer training courses that range in length from 3 weeks to as long as 7 weeks. During summer training, Cadets learn and specialize in different parts of the air Cadet program in such areas as physical fitness, leadership, aircrew survival, aviation, and musicianship. Additionally, 525 Squadron senior Cadets have the opportunity to participate in International Air Cadet Exchanges to locations around the world from Japan to the Netherlands. As an added bonus, senior Cadets also have the option to seek summer employment as staff Cadets at Cadet Training Centers.
Air Cadets who pass the required medical and written examinations can qualify for glider and powered aircraft pilot scholarship summer courses conducted at various flying clubs, schools and camps across Canada.
The following organizations are sponsors and/or supporters of 525 Pathfinder Squadron:
- District of West Vancouver Community Grants Program
- Province of British Columbia Community Gaming Grants Program
- Royal Canadian Legion Branch 60
- Kiwanis Club of West Vancouver
- Department of National Defense
- Air Cadet League of Canada
- Christ the Redeemer Parish
We invite you to visit http://www.525pathfinder.com/photo-gallery.html to experience a pictorial journey of 525 Pathfinder Air Cadets over the past six years.