In August 2025 the Quadra Alumni Association celebrated 50 years of women at HMCS Quadra.  In this episode of the podcast, it was a real pleasure hearing from Manon Mitchell and her journey of attending HMCS Quadra in 1975 and beyond.  She is definitely one of the “original trailblazers” and many have called her an inspiration for younger women that followed in her footsteps.

Manon talks about getting a start in the Sea Cadet world as a member of CCMRC Sioux, in Laval, Quebec. https://www.ccmrcsioux.com  Once this young girl from Quebec saw the Comox Glacier she was hooked!  She reflects on how emotional it was when thinking about leaving Quadra after her first summer.  In 1980 and 1981, Manon served as the Director of Music (DMUS) – first female in the role.  

Thank you to Manon for sharing her memories.

http://www.quadraeducationfoundation.com

Audio editing done by Todd Mason.

More about the Quadra Alumni Podcast:

- Join the Quadra Alumni Association at https://www.quadraalumni.com/

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Thanks to Rick MacDonald for stopping into the studio while visiting Victoria.  Rick is originally from RCSCC Qu’Appelle in Winnipeg, he spent six weeks at Esquimalt Sea Cadet Camp in 1974 before attending the Quadra School of Music in 1975.  Rick later experienced camp life in Whitehorse for a few years.  Once he turned 19, he did enroll in the CIC through the home Corps where he met his wife JoAnn.

I got a chance to chat about sports, hobbies and work life with Rick.  I think you’ll enjoy hearing his stories and related experiences.  I couldn’t convince Rick to become a Lions fan, but I learned that his brother runs the “let’s Talk CFL” podcast and Rick has been a co-host on several episodes.

Rick makes a special mention of Bev MacKillop and hopes she makes the quadra alumni event this summer!

Some famous Canadian athletes we talk about:

https://www.instagram.com/nicktaylorgolf/

https://www.instagram.com/chaseclaypool/

https://www.instagram.com/justindoug/

Audio editing done by Todd Mason.

More about the Quadra Alumni Podcast:

- Join the Quadra Alumni Association at https://www.quadraalumni.com/

- Follow on Twitter at https://twitter.com/QAAPodcast

- Follow on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@quadraalumnipodcast6108

- Follow on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/q_alumni_podcast/?hl=en

Email us at [email protected] for any inquiries or requests to be on the Quadra Alumni Podcast

Commander Pamela Audley served as Commanding Officer at Quadra from 2005-2008.  As we celebrate 50 years of women at HMCS Quadra it seems appropriate to share this episode with all Alumni.  She was the first and still is the only female to serve as XO and CO at the camp.   It was a real honour to interview her and learn so much about her past Cadet career and life.

Pam talks about some of her mentors, many of her favourite memories about some Quadra antics!  She was also the first female CIC Officer to win the Massey Memorial Sword on her BOQ Course in 1986.  Pam was grateful to work in Provincial Corrections in her civilian life and ironically it was a perfect fit for her to carry on through years of summer training at HMCS Quadra.  She plans on staying involved in the Cadet world as a Regional Advisor and will be at numerous ACR’s throughout the Spring and some CTC’s in the Summer.

Audio editing done by Todd Mason.

More about the Quadra Alumni Podcast:

- Join the Quadra Alumni Association at https://www.quadraalumni.com/

- Follow on Twitter at https://twitter.com/QAAPodcast

- Follow on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@quadraalumnipodcast6108

- Follow on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/q_alumni_podcast/?hl=en

Email us at [email protected] for any inquiries or requests to be on the Quadra Alumni Podcast

On this episode, I chat with four women who all joined the Cadet Organization in the late 1970’s or early 1980’s.  Female Sea Cadets started in 1975 at HMCS Quadra, a world that for many years was males only.  

You’ll hear from 4 guests:

Karen Coles,  (née Rutherford)

RCSCC Falkland, Ottawa ON

Practical Leadership 1980 – Top Cadet

Yvette Myers

RCSCC Alberni, Port Alberni BC

Boatswain 1979

Chantal Webb,  (née Lohr)

RCSCC Crusader, Winnipeg MB

Boatswain 1982 – Top Cadet

Jennifer Tennier,  (née Roberts)

RCSCC Rainbow, Victoria BC

Boatswain 1982

I hope you enjoy the discussion with these trailblazing women.  They each share some memories from being involved in Sea Cadets and going to the Q! 

Audio editing done by Todd Mason.

More about the Quadra Alumni Podcast:

- Join the Quadra Alumni Association at https://www.quadraalumni.com/

- Follow on Twitter at https://twitter.com/QAAPodcast

- Follow on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@quadraalumnipodcast6108

- Follow on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/q_alumni_podcast/?hl=en

Email us at [email protected] for any inquiries or requests to be on the Quadra Alumni Podcast

In episode 2, season 4 of the Quadra Alumni Podcast we talk to a dedicated couple that has been involved in training Sea Cadets for much of the past 50 years.  Darrell and Sandy Dudley join me for a discussion about their Sea Cadet and Officer careers and most importantly their time at HMCS Quadra.  Darrell is from RCSCC Amphion and Sandy is originally from RCSCC Rainbow, they met at an OJT Reunion at the famous Big Bad John’s bar at the Strathcona Hotel in Victoria.  For many years both Darrell and Sandy have served in the CIC at the local corps level and in Quadra.  It would be difficult to estimate how many young Sea Cadet lives this couple has influenced and continues to influence.

You’ll hear some of Sandy’s memories from taking the Medical Assistant Course and then working as an OJT in Sick Bay.  Darrell tells us about his memories in the QSM as a cadet musician and how influential that part of his life was.  Later in life, the 2 Dudley daughters join Sandy and Darrell at summer training in Quadra.  Please enjoy this episode with two very dedicated Quadra Alumni members.

Audio editing done by Todd Mason.

More about the Quadra Alumni Podcast:

- Join the Quadra Alumni Association at https://www.quadraalumni.com/

- Follow on Twitter at https://twitter.com/QAAPodcast

- Follow on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@quadraalumnipodcast6108

- Follow on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/q_alumni_podcast/?hl=en

Email us at [email protected] for any inquiries or requests to be on the Quadra Alumni Podcast

In the first episode of 2025, it was great to chat with Chris Allen from Powell River, BC.  His training at HMCS Quadra started in the summer of 2007, however his first memory was a bit earlier when he attended a Sail Centre training session with his RCSCC Malaspina colleagues.  Chris was lucky enough to work 2 summers at HMCS Quadra as a Staff Cadet training young Cadets to be boat operators.

Chris later moved to Nanaimo and joined RCSCC Amphion while he was attending Vancouver Island University (VIU).  He holds a bachelor’s degree in history and education and spent 5 years as a High School teacher before embarking on a career in law enforcement in 2021.

I think you’ll appreciate Chris’ insight into the Ceremony of the Flags and how it showcases important values that HMCS Quadra teaches.  Anyone who might question the importance of the Ceremony and how being involved in it can be so formative for young Cadets needs to hear the points he makes.

Audio editing done by Todd Mason.

More about the Quadra Alumni Podcast:

- Join the Quadra Alumni Association at https://www.quadraalumni.com/

- Follow on Twitter at https://twitter.com/QAAPodcast

- Follow on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@quadraalumnipodcast6108

- Follow on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/q_alumni_podcast/?hl=en

Email us at [email protected] for any inquiries or requests to be on the Quadra Alumni Podcast

In this episode of the Quadra Alumni Podcast you’ll hear from Colin Henthorne, a former Sea Cadet from RCSCC Hampton Gray VC in Nelson, BC.  Colin joined the Corps in 1966 at 12 years old and made his first trip to HMCS Quadra in the summer of 1967.  Colin goes through, in detail, some of his memories from his very first day at Goose Spit.  Colin later took his Boatswain Course at Naden and then attended an International Exchange to Holland (Netherlands) before returning to Quadra in 1972 to attend the Officer Cadet Course.

Colin was determined to be a Flotilla Officer and was so thankful to learn from people like John Treen and Doug McLaughlin.  We spend some time chatting about Flotilla legend “Red Fullerton”.  The Quadra Flotilla led Colin to a career in the marine industry that includes the Coast Guard Hovercraft and Cutters, then offshore oil exploration in the Arctic, tugboats, the Department of Fisheries of Oceans and then moving over to BC Ferries for 18 years.

Very thankful that Colin was willing to talk about his service as Captain on the Queen of the North (BC Ferries route – Prince Rupert to Port Hardy), where unfortunately on 22 March 2006 the ship struck Gil Island and sank in Wright Sound.  Colin gave the order to abandon the ship, they all watched her sink below the surface on that dark Westcoast night; 2 people perished in the incident.  To read more about the incident look for Colin’s book – “The Queen of the North Disaster – The Captain’s Story”.

Audio editing done by Todd Mason.

More about the Quadra Alumni Podcast:

- Join the Quadra Alumni Association at https://www.quadraalumni.com/

- Follow on Twitter at https://twitter.com/QAAPodcast

- Follow on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@quadraalumnipodcast6108

- Follow on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/q_alumni_podcast/?hl=en

Email us at [email protected] for any inquiries or requests to be on the Quadra Alumni Podcast

We start off Season 3 of the Quadra Alumni Podcast by talking with Andrea Kucherawy, RCSCC Undaunted.  Andrea has a long history at HMCS Quadra and her career at Quadra includes highlights such as Lead Stick in the Senior Band, 5 years working with the PL Course as an officer (3 summers as PLO), and 3 years as the GunsO.
Andrea is a great example of how well Quadra has passed on the teachings from generation to generation.  Hear who she learned from and some of the people she influenced throughout her time at Goose Spit.
Andrea shares a great story about how one of her former PL Cadets (Glen Klose) has used his experiences from PL and turned it into a program for Canadian Police Officers suffering from exposure to trauma.  "Mettle" - "The ability or driving force of an individual to persevere when they think they can't go any farther."

Audio editing done by Todd Mason.

More about the Quadra Alumni Podcast:

- Join the Quadra Alumni Association at https://www.quadraalumni.com/

- Follow on Twitter at https://twitter.com/QAAPodcast

- Follow on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@quadraalumnipodcast6108

- Follow on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/q_alumni_podcast/?hl=en

Email us at [email protected] for any inquiries or requests to be on the Quadra Alumni Podcast

Lorne is from Winnipeg Manitoba and hails from RCSCC John Travers Cornwell, VC.  He remembers first going to HMCS Quadra in 1971 as a two-weekie and then followed up the next summer as a PL Cadet.  As an OJT Lorne, worked in the Gunnery Department (1973) his first summer and then became the Chief of Quadra the following summer.  Hear how the Chief of Quadra was selected back in his day!  

Lorne believes the Practical Leadership course was a turning point in his life and set him on track for many years working in the Cadet program.  He offers up his thoughts on the future of the Cadet summer program as well.

Audio editing done by Todd Mason.

More about the Quadra Alumni Podcast:

- Join the Quadra Alumni Association at https://www.quadraalumni.com/

- Follow on Twitter at https://twitter.com/QAAPodcast

- Follow on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@quadraalumnipodcast6108

- Follow on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/q_alumni_podcast/?hl=en

Email us at [email protected] for any inquiries or requests to be on the Quadra Alumni Podcast

Commanding Officer - HMCS Quadra 1982-1984

Audio editing done by Todd Mason.

More about the Quadra Alumni Podcast:

- Join the Quadra Alumni Association at https://www.quadraalumni.com/

- Follow on Twitter at https://twitter.com/QAAPodcast

- Follow on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@quadraalumnipodcast6108

- Follow on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/q_alumni_podcast/?hl=en

Email us at [email protected] for any inquiries or requests to be on the Quadra Alumni Podcast