The world-renowned Hobbema Cadets will be put in the spotlight on Nov 15 at a prestigious gala event in Toronto, Ontario.
One Hobbema cadet out of the 1,040 enrolled cadets has been chosen to represent his comrades at the 4th annual gala dinner at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre.
Dean Bruno-Kelln is a 14 year old Grade 8 student who is one of the founding members of the Hobbema Community Cadet Corps joining when he was 12 years old.
Since then Bruno-Kelln has shown outstanding leadership in the cadets as well as in the community. Bruno-Kelln, cadet warrant officer, will be accompanied to Toronto by Const. Richard Huculiak and Sgt. Mark Linnell, founders of the Hobbema Community Cadet Corps Program (HCCCP).
Huculiak is honoured to have Bruno-Kelln represent the Hobbema Cadets and believes that he has proven to be a great leader and amazing person.
“He is very gifted in the spiritual aspect of the culture,” said Huculiak. “He’s motivated, responsible, a leader and a very good role model. He has a big heart for the community.”
Dean is active in school and plays volleyball, enjoys track and field and long distance running.
Huculiak says he has seen a change in Bruno-Kelln from when he first started the cadet program until now.
“He’s matured so much in the last two years, and has worked his way to being promoted to the second highest level,” he said.
When in Toronto, Bruno-Killn will showcase the program and share his experience with the Hobbema Cadets and how it has had an impact on his life.
Huculiak says that it was easy choosing Bruno-Killn to speak on behalf of the Hobbema Cadets and believes that he will do a great job.
“He has had so many credits throughout the year,” he said. “We said ‘there is the star–he will represent the 1,040 cadets.”
The gala dinner is held each year to help raise funds to support community programs such as the Hobbema Cadets to help build a brighter and better future for Canada’s youth at risk.
The event will also be televised on numerous stations.
The Hobbema Cadets proved to be a worthwhile program from the start, beginning with over 900 young people between the ages of eight and 18.
The Hobbema Cadets prepare youth for future leadership positions, and teach them the importance of discipline, positive attitudes, social development skills and leadership training. The Hobbema Cadets also includes mentors from families, schools, leaders in the community, police, etc.
Currently the Cadet programs are being planned in many other First Nations communities across the country. Elders in the community are also working with the RCMP to help give the option to young people to become trained to be RCMP cadets.