ABOUT US

Since 1941, Royal Canadian Sea Cadet Corps (RCSCC) WARSPITE has provided the youth (age 12-18) of Waterloo Region with a FREE, INCLUSIVE, and EXCITING training program that fosters leadership, citizenship, teamwork, and nautical training. All sea, army, and air cadets are members of the Canadian Cadet Organizations (CCO). Across Canada, the CCO currently consists of 54,000+ cadets, over 7,500 + Canadian Forces staff, and countless volunteers. You also can count yourself among the hundreds of thousands of former cadets, as the program has existed, in one form or another, since 1879.

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As a Sea Cadet Corps, our cadets specialize in nautical training consisting of: sailing, seamanship, shipboard life, naval communications, power boat handling, shipboard navigation, knots and rigging, and much more. There are also programs that are across all cadet programs such as marksmanship, band, biathlon, first aid, and sports and fitness. Other major components of the cadet program include leadership, instructional technique, drill and ceremonial, citizenship, Canadian Forces familiarity, and community involvement.

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Some qualifications that sea cadets could expect to achieve during their cadet career include: Pleasure Craft Operators Card, Restricted Marine Radio Operators Licence, CANSAIL levels, Music levels, and standard first aid.

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Our local training program is run within the Kitchener-Waterloo area, focusing on activities that can be conducted within our community. Currently, our corps parades out of The Ship, our home located at 530 Legion in Waterloo.

 

Our training year runs from September to mid-June. During July and August, there are summer training and deployment opportunities that vary in length and location. On top of that, selected senior cadets have the opportunity to attend international exchanges, to sail aboard a Tall Ship, or participate in ship deployments aboard Canadian Navy and Coast Guard vessels.

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Sea Cadets also participate in ceremonial events and citizenship activities that allow them to connect to their Canadian naval heritage. Locally, we work with the KW Naval Veterans Association and our local reserve unit, HMCS STAR to develop unique nautical experiences. We also partner with local Legions to aid in parades, poppy sales, and other military historical celebrations.

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The hands-on activities, exciting challenges and leadership opportunities for Sea Cadets are many. Canada’s motto, A Mari usque ad Mare (“From Sea to Sea“) can be applied to Sea Cadets. With Sea Cadet Corps found all across the country and given Canada’s abundance of water and shoreline, the opportunities are many whether inland or on either coast . You are bound to observe a Sea Cadet making a splash somewhere, from sea to sea!​

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The RCSCC Warspite is jointly funded by the Department of National Defence in partnership with the K-W Navy League. The K-W Navy League partners with other community organizations and support to help provide accommodations, training aids and equipment and program enhancements not otherwise provided. Parents and Cadets are expected to participate in and contribute to fundraising as required by the League’s local sponsoring element.

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The Department of National Defence/Canadian Armed Forces assumes costs (including uniform and travel) for Cadets. Consequently, membership in the Cadet Program provides thousands of Canadian youth with unique opportunities free of charge that they might not otherwise experience — making the Cadet Program a viable option.