Staff and Squadron Sponsoring Committee

Staff

Squadron Sponsoring Committee

Officers of the Cadet Instructors Cadre (CIC) are members of the Canadian Forces Reserve working as part of the Cadet Organizations Administration and Training Service (COATS) whose primary duty is the supervision, administration and training of youth from 12–19 years of age who are members of the Royal Canadian Sea, Army and Air Cadets in more than 1,100 corps and squadrons across Canada.

Introducing our new Commanding Officer! Captain Lynda Holowatyj has had a long career in the military as a CIC officer. She was one of the first female air cadets at 94 Optimist Squadron in Newmarket, and went on to become an officer at that unit. She has worked with several other units in various capacities, including 166 Bulldog, 351 Silver Star, 883 Leonard Birchall, 778 Banshee and 707 Squadron in Etobicoke. She's been Commanding officer at 94 (twice), 166, and 707. Captain Holowatyj was recognized by the Air Cadet League in 2009 with an Award of Excellence. She also received the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Medal in 2012. We're happy to have her expertise for 140 Aurora Squadron.
Captain D'Aguiar has started her new command with 724 Midland Lions Air Cadets. We thank her for her service to 140 Aurora Squadron and wish her well in her new command.

Commanding Officer: Captain Lynda Holowatyj

Deputy Commanding Officer/Training Officer: Captain Murray Charlton

Standards Officer: Captain Neil Gagnon

Civilian Instructors (CIs) and Civilian Volunteers (CVs) are members of the staff and are tasked with many duties to assist the CIC Officers with effective management of the Squadron activities.

Assistant Training Officer: Civilian Volunteer Adrian Travis

Administration Officer:

Civilian Instructor Gail Waller

Ground School Instructor: Civilian Instructor Laurie Macdonald

Assistant Ground School Instructor: Civilian Volunteer Marcus La

Supply Officer: Vacant

Squadron Warrant Officer:

Warrant Officer Second Class Noah Fadaei-Azad

Squadron Sponsoring Committee

Our Squadron Sponsoring Committee(SSC) is composed of parent volunteers. All parents are automatically members of the committee and are welcome to attend the committee meetings which generally meet the first Tuesday of the month at Cardinal Carter Catholic High School. The committee executive Members, Chair, Co-Chair, Treasurer and Secretary are positions that are filled by election.

SSC members work with the squadron to ensure annual plans and budget are in place, organize fundraising initiatives, provide financial and administrative needs, and support cadet recreational programs, etc. The SSC coordinates the tagging campaigns each Fall and Spring. They also organize annual events like the Christmas party and organize food for the reception following the Annual Ceremonial Review.

SSC Executive

Chair: Ms Mae Sung (140chair@gmail.com)

Vice Chair: Ms Karen Strong (140vicechair@gmail.com)

Treasurer: Ms. Carmen Simpson

(140treasurer@gmail.com)

Secretary: Ms Karen Strong (140secretary@gmail.com)

Immediate Past Chair: Mr Anthony Francis

About 140 Aurora Squadron

Our History

For over 30 years, 140 Aurora Squadron has been home to several hundred cadets from across York Region. Involvement in Air Cadets provides youth aged 12 - 19 with opportunities to pursue interests in aeronautics; develop leadership abilities; demonstrate citizenship, promote physical fitness and stimulate an interest in the Canadian Armed Forces. The Squadron's alumni have gone on to careers in aviation, business and the military.

This hard-working organization is a prime example of an organization that considers community involvement and betterment an important part of its mission, while exemplifying its motto:

Through Excellence to the Stars

Our 30th Anniversary!

On 19 October 2019, 140 Aurora Squadron made history. We received Freedom of the Town from the Town of Aurora in a ceremony that began with a parade to the Town Hall and a Proclamation by Mayor Tom Mrakas, read by the Town Crier, John Webster.

Freedom of the Town is an honour rarely given to cadet units. 140 Aurora Squadron is proud to receive it in recognition of our 30 years of service to the citizens of Aurora.

We thank the Mayor and the Councillors for this honour. A special thank you to the Town Crier for his participation in this event.

That evening, the Squadron hosted a 30th Anniversary Gala Dinner at the Cardinal Golf Club. Our guest speaker was Jacquie Perrin, the noted Canadian journalist. Ms Perrin is an Honourary Member of the Squadron and entertained us all with her memories of her time with the Squadron as our Effective Speaking Coach.

Days like this don't happen without a lot of work behind the scenes by so many.

Our Squadron Sponsoring committee made the dinner come together. Thank you to our Chair, Tony Francis, our Vice-Chair, Mae Sung, our Treasurer, Suzanne Gilbody, our Secretary, Marina Rudenko, and Karen Strong, who, with Ms Sung, made the table decorations.

Our EmCee was a recent addition to the staff, but with his own history at 140 Aurora Squadron. Thank you to Captain Javed Khan for filling this role.

Special thanks also to Mike Degteariov, who was our official photographer for the day. Be sure to go to the Gallery here to see his wonderful pictures.

Of course, none of this would have been possible without our Founder, Lieutenant Colonel Ferguson Mobbs (retired). Without his vision, we would not be the Squadron we are today.

On to the next 30 years and beyond.

Disclaimer: This is the official website of the 140 Aurora Squadron Sponsoring Committee, the civilian sponsor of 140 Aurora Squadron. This is not a Canadian Forces website. These pages are not intended to be, nor do they represent in any way, official comments, statistics, or opinions of the Department of National Defence or the Air Cadet League of Canada. These pages are not provided, endorsed, sponsored or approved by the Department of National Defence or the Air Cadet League of Canada. Links to external sites are provided for completeness. Links were active at the time of writing. Content at external sites is not necessarily endorsed by 140 Aurora Squadron.