THE ORIGINS OF THE CADET MOVEMENT IN CANADA

On June 3, 1861, less than two months after the outbreak of civil war in the U.S., a Militia General Order was given that authorized the formation of the “Trinity College Volunteer Rifle Company;” the first volunteer militia rifle company in a Canadian school.  Many references claim the school to have been Trinity College in Port Hope, Ontario.  However, the college at Port Hope was initially established in Weston, Ontario in 1865 and didn’t move to Port Hope until 1868.  Consequently, the first school to have an authorized volunteer militia rifle company in Canada was most likely Trinity College at the University of Toronto.  It was founded in 1851. 

CADET BEGINNINGS IN VERNON 

After 1902, the strength and efficiency of Canada’s militia system improved somewhat with the return of veterans from the war in South Africa.   Then, a few years later, in April 1908, an independent squadron known as the Canadian Mounted Rifles (unofficially dubbed the Okanagan Mounted Rifles) was authorized for Vernon.  Later, in December 1911, the unit was granted authority to change its name from the Canadian Mounted Rifles to the 1st Regiment, B.C. Horse; the roots of the present day British Columbia Dragoons.  In 1912, the B.C. Horse became the 30th Regiment, B.C. Horse.

Most photos on this page are from the
​Army Cadet History webpage.  

DONATIONS

Financial donations can be made via:
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Our Kit Shop under the 'Donations' section
In-person at the Vernon Cadet Camp Museum or at the Vernon Museum & Archives
Our email vernoncadetmuseum@gmail.com
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If you are interested in donating items and are unsure if we would accept, please fill out the form below.
​The curator will be in contact with you about your item as quick as possible.

​Thank you, the Vernon Military History Society.

    Request a Donation Receipt
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"If you are interested in local history, stop in at the cadet camp museum. It's small, but so interesting! They have done a great job with their displays, including personal memorabilia that will appeal to people who actually went to camp, and thematic displays that will appeal to history buffs. When we were there they had a display on food rations and one on head gear through the years, as well as the results of an 'archeological dig' that occurred when they updated some of the barracks and discovered several decades' worth of trinkets in the ground below! This is the only cadet museum in Canada and we really enjoyed ourselves."
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