Air Cadet League of Canada

Air Cadet League of Canada
Air Cadet League of Canada emblem
Active	11 November 1940 - Present
Country	Canada
Branch	Shared responsibility with the Canadian Forces
Type	Youth Organization
Part of	Air Cadet League of Canada
Headquarters	Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Motto(s)	To Learn - To Serve - To Advance
Commanders
National President	Donald A. Berrill, CD (2016)
Aircraft flown
Trainer	Schweizer SGS 2-33/2-33A, Cessna 152, Cessna 172

The Air Cadet League of Canada is a volunteer organization that provides financial support and oversight to the Royal Canadian Air Cadets. The Air Cadet League owns all of the aircraft used in the Air Cadet Gliding Program. The idea for the entire league began in 1940, when Air Minister Power called in a group of civilians and asked them to set up a country-wide voluntary organization to sponsor and develop this growing movement. At the end of the Second World War many squadrons that had been set up "for the duration" were disbanded and the movement settled down to a low point of approximately 11,000 cadets in 155 squadrons. On February 1, 1968, the Air Cadet League lost its original partner, the Royal Canadian Air Force, and unification brought about a new partnership with the Canadian Armed Forces. The Belt of Orion Award for Excellence was founded by Canada's Aviation Hall of Fame in 1988 to honour organizations, groups, societies or associations who have made outstanding contributions to the advancement of aviation in Canada. This was awarded to the Air Cadet League of Canada in 1989. The entire League is organized into three levels, the National, the Provincial, and the local level, each of which is responsible for different areas of the League.

In Canada there came into being the idea of a select corps of teenaged youths, who would devote some of their spare time preparing for the day when they would take their places in the ranks of the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF). In 1940, Air Minister Power, who was very much aware of the need for this type of Air Cadet training, called in a group of influential civilians and asked them to set up a country-wide voluntary organization to sponsor and develop this growing movement. The response was immediate, and a civilian organization was soon created to work on a partnership basis with the RCAF. As it later developed, this partnership was to be the main reason for the striking success of the Air Cadet Movement in Canada.

On 11 November 1940, Order-in-Council PC 6647 was passed. This order authorized the formation of the Air Cadet League of Canada and set forth the responsibilities of the civilian body and of the RCAF. On 9 April 1941, the Air Cadet League of Canada was granted a Dominion Charter authorizing it to operate as a charitable, non-profit corporation. An administrative headquarters was established in Ottawa, and the stage was set for a concentrated appeal for sponsors and volunteers throughout the provinces. In the early part of 1941, a national board of key men was chosen and it met for the first time in Ottawa on 2 June of that year. One of the first acts of the national directors was to appoint an outstanding chairman in each of the nine provinces. The provincial chairmen in turn, set up their committees and these gentlemen travelled widely, talking to public-minded citizens and recruiting local sponsorship for the squadrons. The organization of squadrons proceeded through the fall months of 1941 and by the end of the year there were 79 squadrons affiliated across the country. By May 1942, there were 135 squadrons and 10,000 cadets. One year later, 315 squadrons with 23,000 cadets.