Feature photo: (from left) Lieutenant-Colonel McNeil, Severin Gravelle from 357 Royal Canadian Sea Cadet Corps Hero (second place), Joshua LaRose from 844 Norseman Royal Canadian Air Cadets (first place), Robert Craig from 110 Royal Canadian Sea Cadet Corps Stormont (third place), and Chief Warrant Officer Godbout (Photo: Captain Heather Lawrence, New Media and Productions Officer, Regional Cadet Support Unit (Central), Canadian Armed Forces)
If you are prone to getting lost, Joshua LaRose is the kind of person you want at your side. A Warrant Officer First Class with the Huntsville-based 844 Norseman Royal Canadian Air Cadets, LaRose took first place in the senior male category at the Regional Cadet Orienteering Competition on October 29 and 30.
The top orienteers in three age categories from cadet units across Ontario competed in individual and team events at the Dufferin County Forest Main Tract. Competitors were required to use a map and compass to navigate terrain of varying difficulty and were scored based on elapsed time and, for teams, points received for reaching different control points.
To get there, LaRose, a grade 12 student at Huntsville High School, first had to compete at the Northern Ontario Area Orienteering Competition in Sudbury and place first or second in order to qualify for the regionals. Then he had to best the other senior male competitors from across Ontario on the 4.7 km regionals course, which he did in a time of 1:08:51.
LaRose joined the 844 Norseman squadron five years ago after learning about the cadets during a school presentation. “I thought it would be an interesting thing to do. I came on the first night and it’s stuck with me ever since,” said LaRose. “I like the leadership aspect and all the different things we get to do and the great people you get to meet.”
Joshua LaRose at the Regional Orienteering Competition. (Photo: Captain Heather Lawrence)
He started orienteering four years ago. “When I heard about it – running through the bush with a map and compass – I thought that was pretty cool.” They’re skills that will come in handy in the future – LaRose has his sights set on a career as a police officer.
And he highly recommends cadets for other youth in the community. “If you’re looking for a fun place to be, it’s entirely free, you get to meet great people and there are so many opportunities that you wouldn’t have had without cadets. I had the opportunity this summer to go to the national camp in North Bay, and there were kids from all over Canada there. It was a great experience.”
Learn more about the 844 Norseman Royal Canadian Air Cadets here.
Don’t miss out on Doppler! Sign up for our free, twice-weekly newsletter here.
You inspire those around you, young and old! Stay real, be the best you! Thank you for being the example our community can be proud of!
Good for you, Josh. We are so proud of you !!!