We Lead
It's not just our motto. Royal Canadian Sea Cadet Corps Vanguard is a youth program that specializes in leadership development. Royal Canadian Navy familiarization is the method at which we achieve our aim.
Our History
Founded 1958; Continuing Older Traditions
RCSCC Vanguard was created in the same year as the opening of HMCS York's current stone frigate on Lake Shore Blvd. W., in 1958. It was a combination of 3 other downtown units, RCSCC Ark Royal, RCSCC Haida, and a previously absorbed unit, RCSCC Temeraire. The names Ark Royal and Temeraire have been reused by the Navy League Cadet Corps in Toronto, while another RCSCC Haida was started in Mississauga.
RCSCC Ark Royal had a boathouse constructed in 1952 in Ashbridges Bay, which transferred to RCSCC Vanguard in 1958. The boathouse was moved in 1981 to its present location on Ashbridges Bay.
Former Coxswains
Of all the Cadets, their Leader
Like a Regimental Sergeant Major in the Army, or a Squadron Warrant Officer in the Air Force traditions, the Coxswain is the senior Cadet and is 'in charge,' no matter what their rank. In Naval Tradition, the position also was a Special Sea Dutyman for helming the ship. In bad weather, difficult waters, or enemy action, the Coxswain would be at the wheel. They would also be in charge of any ships boats that would transport the Captain.
CPO1 John Chattoe - 1958
CPO1 Geoffrey Fanakan - 1959
CPO1 Rick Moran - 1960
CPO1 Ron White - 1960
Pete Landers or Landry 1960
CPO1 Russell Robinson - 1960 - 1962
Al Archembault 1960's
Jim McGovern 1960's
CPO1 Gord McLennan - 1971 – 1973
CPO1 Lisa Donohue - 1974
CPO1 Randy Donohue - 1976
CPO1 Dave Martin - 1977
CPO1 Paul Shaw - 1977 – 1978
CPO1 Alan Hedley - 1980 – 1981
CPO1 Linda Rees - 1981 - 1982
CPO1 Kevin Finley - 1982 - 1983
CPO1 Peter Gogus - 1986 – 1987
CPO1 Dawn Bell - 1987 – 1988
CPO1 Simon Delicata - 1988 – 1989
CPO1 Ron MacIntosh - 1989 – 1990
CPO1 Greg LeBlonc - 1990 – 1991
CPO1 Annette Leblanc - 1991 - 1992
CPO1 Danielle Deyoung - 1992 - 1993
CPO1 Hoffstee - 1993 – 1994
CPO1 Adrian Berry - 1994 – 1995
CPO Peter Kaftarian - 1995 – 1997
CPO1 Brian Henwood - 1997 – 2000
CPO1 Anna Petryshyn - 2000 – 2001
CPO1 Oksana Salamaszek - 2001 – 2001
CPO2 Charlene Adusei - 2001 – 2002
CPO1 Kong Seto - 2002 – 2003
CPO1 Angelo Aires - 2003 - 2004
CPO1 Kerry Munro - 2004 - 2005
CPO1 Stephen Mailloux - 2005 - 2006
CPO1 Stephanie Aires - 2006 - 2007
CPO1 Peter Ristovski - 2007
CPO1 Thomas Litherland - 2007
CPO1 Jennifer Cyr - 2007 - 2008
CPO1 Katelyn Penney - 2008 - 2009
CPO1 Alice Litherland - 2009 - 2010
CPO1 Cody Goodwin - 2010 - 2011
CPO1 Codey Bennett - 2011 - 2012
CPO1 MacNeal Darnley - 2012 - 2013
CPO2 Rebecca McLuckie - 2013 - 2014
CPO1 Victoria McLuckie - 2014 - 2016
CPO2 Liz Darnley - 2016
CPO1 Una Lem-Wong - 2016 - 2017
CPO1 Adam Gauran - 2017 - 2018
CPO1 Ke Ru (Katherine) Li - 2018 - 2019
CPO1 Eric Yu - 2019 - 2020
** CPO1 Wendy Lin - 2020 SIDC/SICC Coxswain
CPO1 Nicole Yuen 2020 - 2021
CPO1 Grace Lin 2021 -
Former Captains
From the days of 'wooden ships and iron men,' the Captain is the ultimate authority aboard ship. A tradition that follows to the current day is that they are financially responsible for all that is issued to a ship, and often held responsible for a ship not performing its duty. The trade off is that they are treated first among officers.
Lt Desjardin – 1958-1959
Lt G. Cawthorne – 1959-1963
Lt W. Hedley – 1963-1967
Lt(N) J. Connor – 1967-1969
Lt(N) J. Brooks – 1969-1971
Lt(N) W. Hedley – 1971-1976
LCdr Johnstone, CD - 1976-1979
Lt(N) G. Shires – 1979-1983
Lt(N) G. King – 1983-1986
Lt(N) B. Reeve – 1986-1989
Lt(N) B. Borland – 1989-1991
Lt(N) G. King, CD – 1991-1995
Lt(N) J. Piovesan, CD – 1995-1998
Lt(N) D. Highstead - 1998-2000
Lt(N) G. LeBlonc, CD – 2000-2003
Lt(N) R. Fraser, CD – 2003-2006
Lt(N) P. Simas, CD – 2006-2009
Lt(N) N. Armstrong, CD – 2009-2012
Lt(N) G. Hall, CD – 2012-2015
Lt(N) E. Edwards – 2015-2018