High school students sworn into army reserve for co-op program
A dozen high school students from Waterloo Region and Guelph have been sworn into the army reserve as part of a co-op program.
The ceremony was held at the Cambridge Armoury on Saturday.
"Today we swore in 12 recruits who will be here to learn how to become soldiers as part of the co-op program," said Lt.-Col. Shawn Dumbreck of the Royal Highland Fusiliers of Canada.
The students will undergo basic military training while receiving high school co-op credits and financial reimbursement. Students must be 16 years old, have completed grade 10, and have parental consent.
The program took a pandemic pause and has returned at a time when the military is battling with recruitment and retention.
"That has definitely been a major point for both the Chief of Defence Staff and our sitting government to grow this force," said Lt.-Col. Dumbreck.
The army shrunk by 1,200 soldiers in 2021 and roughly 800 in 2022.
"It starts here at the community level. Something like the co-op program brings youth into the armoury and gives them that exposure and taste of military life," said Lt.-Col Dumbreck.
Matthew Van Ravenstein is a new recruit who will be developing the same skills taught through the basic military qualification course. This includes everything from a basic understanding of drills, to proper dress code and deportment.
"I've always wanted to do this," said Van Ravenstein. "Even as a kid I was always looking at them and thinking 'wow I want to do that someday.' A lot of my ancestors did join different militaries, so I think that is a good choice."
The students aren't considered qualified soldiers and may choose to go an entirely different direction following their co-op. But Van Ravenstein wants to go all the way.
"Not a lot of people know about it, and even if they do, are they willing to do it?" said Van Ravenstein. "It does look very frightening because you're like 'what if I have to go overseas? What if I have to leave my family?'"
So for some this opportunity is far more than just a high school credit. It's a chance to be credited for serving their country.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Harvey Weinstein's 2020 rape conviction overturned by N.Y. appeals court
New York's highest court on Thursday overturned Harvey Weinstein's 2020 rape conviction, reversing a landmark ruling of the #MeToo era in determining the trial judge improperly allowed women to testify about allegations against the ex-movie mogul that weren't part of the case.
BREAKING Honda to get up to $5B in govt help for EV battery, assembly plants
Honda is set to build an electric vehicle battery plant next to its Alliston, Ont., assembly plant, which it is retooling to produce fully electric vehicles, all part of a $15-billion project that is expected to include up to $5 billion in public money.
MPP Sarah Jama asked to leave Ontario legislature for wearing keffiyeh
MPP Sarah Jama was asked to leave the Legislative Assembly of Ontario by House Speaker Ted Arnott on Thursday for wearing a keffiyeh, a garment that is banned at Queen’s Park.
CTE: Researchers believe widespread brain injury may contribute to veteran suicide rate
Researchers are working to better understand if some Canadian military veterans may be suffering from Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy, also known as CTE -- a disorder previously found in the brains of professional football and hockey players after their death.
1 arrested in northern Alberta during public shelter order
Residents of John D'Or Prairie, a community on the Little Red River Cree Nation in northern Alberta, were told to take shelter Thursday morning during a police operation.
Secret $70M Lotto Max winners break their silence
During a special winner celebration near their hometown, Doug and Enid shared the story of how they discovered they were holding a Lotto Max ticket worth $70 million and how they kept this huge secret for so long.
Remains from a mother-daughter cold case were found nearly 24 years later, after a deathbed confession from the suspect
A West Virginia father is getting some sense of closure after authorities found the remains of his young daughter and her mother following a deathbed confession from the man believed to have fatally shot them nearly two decades ago.
New deep-water channel allows first ship to pass Key bridge wreckage in Baltimore
The first cargo ship passed through a newly opened deep-water channel in Baltimore on Thursday after being stuck in the harbor since the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed four weeks ago, halting most maritime traffic through the city's port.
First in Canada procedure performed at London, Ont. hospital
A London man has become the first person in Canada to receive a robotic assisted surgery on his spine. Dave Myeh suffered from debilitating, chronic back pain that led to sciatica in his right now and extreme pain in his lower back.