Previously featured squadron

692 BCIT Aerospace Squadron

Chartered

May 7, 1959

Status

Active

Community

Richmond, BC

Squadron History

On January 25, 1959, the British Columbia Provincial Committee of the Air Cadet League of Canada (BCPC) forwarded an application to form a second Squadron in Richmond. The proposed Squadron would meet at RCAF Station Sea Island, sharing the same quarters used by 655 Richmond Squadron on a different parade night. With 141 Cadets, it was no longer feasible to parade everyone on a single night, and it was considered more effective administratively to form two Squadrons. The Kiwanis Club agreed to sponsor the entire group.

A Charter was issued for the new Squadron on May 7, 1959, and the new Richmond Squadron was officially stood up on May 31, 1960, becoming known as 692 Golden Hawk Squadron.

After its formation, 692 Golden Hawk Squadron encountered various challenges that necessitated changes to the Squadron’s name. In February 1963, RCAF Station Sea Island was being closed due to the unification of the Canadian Armed Forces. With the closure of the station, the Kiwanis Club could no longer support both 655 and 692 Squadrons. In early 1964, Trans Canada Airlines (TCA) stepped forward to take over sponsorship. On February 10, 1964, the ACLC advised that a TCA Squadron already existed in Winnipeg, and therefore the Vancouver unit would be designated 692 TCA Vancouver Squadron. On January 1, 1965, Trans Canada Airlines was officially renamed Air Canada by an Act of Parliament, and the Squadron’s name was updated accordingly.

Fast forward to November 5, 2005: following Air Canada’s acquisition of Canadian Pacific Airlines, the company needed the hangar space it had previously provided to 692 for its LHQ. Air Canada announced the end of its 43-year sponsorship of the Squadron. Finding a new home in Richmond to accommodate approximately 90 Cadets proved extremely challenging, and Squadron enrolment began to decline.

Thanks to the determined efforts of two Air Cadet parents — SSC Secretary Doris Alston and SSC Chair Camile Edwards — contact was made with the administration of the British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT) Aerospace Campus, located very close to the YVR South Terminal. BCIT welcomed 692 Squadron to its original site. This was a major turning point in the Squadron’s history.

On January 3, 2006, to solidify the Squadron’s alliance with BCIT, the Squadron’s name was officially changed from 692 Air Canada Squadron to 692 BCIT Aerospace Squadron. In 2007, BCIT relocated its Aerospace Technology Campus to its current location at 3800 Cessna Drive, Richmond, and included 692 Squadron in the move. The Cadets feel privileged to have access to state-of-the-art classrooms at the campus for their training and the use of campus grounds to parade on.

Since 2005, the 692 BCIT Aerospace Squadron’s alliance with BCIT has fostered enormous growth within the unit, making it one of the largest Cadet units in BC. Some Squadron alumni have gone on to attend aviation-related classes at BCIT Aerospace Campus. In addition to an exposure to power and glider flying, the Squadron’s training program offers Band, Drill, First Aid, Effective Speaking, Ground School, Range, and Survival training.

“This program is for children ages 12–18 and is dedicated to developing social and practical skills in Cadets to prepare them for their future careers and to help deal with diverse aspects of life. Some of our Cadets have successfully become Glider and Power pilots, and a select few have graduated from the exclusive Cathay Cadet Pilot Program!”

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Training Staff & Sponsoring Committee

Squadron Records