Featured Squadron of the Month

The task of finding an affordable location for the Squadron to parade in Richmond seemed insurmountable. Available locations approached were either quoting unaffordable commercial rental rates or were not interested in renting their premises to Air Cadets. Finaly, in 2007 they settled on the small elementary school gym at Walter Lee Elementary School. With no office space for the Squadron Staff or the SSC and no access to class rooms, the 655 Squadron Satellite Flight started recruiting Cadets and Parents. The Staff and SSC operated like a M.A.S.H. unit using their cars to transport equipment and files to the Squadron every week.

One year later, With 60 Air Cadets on parade and with the Steveston Branch of ANAVETS serving as the Corporate Sponsor for the Squadron, Capt. Gary Gratrix serving as the first Commanding Officer of the flight assisted by 2nd Lts Richelle Holmes and Eric Schillinger, CIs Madeline and Stephan Schillinger and Civilian Volunteers Kurt Schillinger and Harry Pratt, and with Ramon Crespo, Jacob So, Bonnie Bernal, Manuel Guevara and Lisa Nerona serving as the founding members of the 609 Steveston Sponsoring Committee, the 655 Squadron Satellite Flight met all the criteria for starting a Squadron. The application to Charter 609 Steveston Squadron was approved by the BCPC and the RCSU (Pac) and submitted to the ACLC.

On April 16, 2008, the Charter for 609 Steveston RCACS was signed and the Squadron was approved to be stood up as Richmond’s third Air Cadet Squadron.

At the parade organized to officially present the Charter and the Squadron Banner to the CO and SSC Chair, Ramon Crespo was quoted as saying “We are proud to bring air Cadets to Steveston. Many of our Cadets were attending other Squadrons in Richmond but now Steveston youth have the nationally supported Cadet program as a resource for personal development.”

At first, several senior Cadets from 655 and 692 had transferred over to 609 Steveston Squadron. With a full allotment of DND staff, the Cadet training side of the program all went well. On the SSC side however, with the founding members being very new to the program, the learning curve was very steep. The hardships of the first two years did not deter this group of dedicated parents and Squadron staff. It was not very long after this that the Squadron reached the maximum capacity of 100 Cadets permitted by the Richmond Fire Department for the School gym. They too started a waiting list.