The Vernon Military History Society is dedicated to the preservation of Military and Cadet History in the Vernon Area.
In 1949, the first summer of the Cadet Training Camp, some 1230 army cadets from BC and Alberta arrived by passenger train and trained for 10 days on the Basic Army Cadet Course.
240 cadets stayed behind to take 6 weeks of trades training.
Vernon joined Ipperwash, Dundurn, Farnham and Aldershot as the main training camps for army cadets across Canada that summer.
Vernon has a long proud history of Cadets attending the Training Centre, at last count in 2019 just over 100,000 youth had passed through its gates to enjoy, learn, lead and inspire during their training here at Vernon Cadet Camp
240 cadets stayed behind to take 6 weeks of trades training.
Vernon joined Ipperwash, Dundurn, Farnham and Aldershot as the main training camps for army cadets across Canada that summer.
Vernon has a long proud history of Cadets attending the Training Centre, at last count in 2019 just over 100,000 youth had passed through its gates to enjoy, learn, lead and inspire during their training here at Vernon Cadet Camp
The Vernon Cadet Camp Museum will be closed until further notice.
As the museum is located on a Canadian Armed Forces Base,
to comply with the C.A.F. Polices in light of COVID-19,
the Vernon Cadet Camp Museum will remain closed until further notice.
Due to this closure the Society has opened a temporary exhibit for 2021
Please visit the exhibit page 2021 Exhibit for further information
As the museum is located on a Canadian Armed Forces Base,
to comply with the C.A.F. Polices in light of COVID-19,
the Vernon Cadet Camp Museum will remain closed until further notice.
Due to this closure the Society has opened a temporary exhibit for 2021
Please visit the exhibit page 2021 Exhibit for further information
VERNON CADET TRAINING CENTRE
previously named
Vernon Cadet Summer Training Centre 2014-2016
Vernon Army Cadet Summer Training Centre 1997-2014
Vernon Army Cadet Camp 1962-1996
Vernon Cadet Trades Training Centre 1955-61
Western Command Trades Training Centre 1953-54
Alberta - British Columbia Western Command Trades Training Camp 1949-52
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
Talk of forming a local cadet corps in Vernon was mentioned as early as 1908. At that time, the commanding officer of the Okanagan Mounted Rifles, Major H.A. Perry, gave lessons in drill to a few public school students. Then, in 1912, a cadet corps was established and authorized for Vernon. About 40 boys were enrolled in the corps that was officially known as No. 368, The 30th British Columbia Horse Cadets. Their uniform was not unlike that of the regiment itself.