Key Messages

• In recent years, the Canadian Cadet Organizations (CCO) have experienced a decline in the Cadet population from approximately 58,000 to 50,000 cadets. The Cadet Program has far more to offer as the program of choice for Canada’s youth for us to be satisfied with this level of participation.
  
  
• The Cadet Population Growth Initiative (CPGI) is the spark that will ignite many initiatives that illuminate the appeal of this premier program to youth, their parents / guardians, community leaders, and the general public.
    
• All partners in the Cadet Program – CCO, Leagues, and local sponsors - are committed to growing the Cadet population together through unity of purpose and action. A national Master Implementation Plan (MIP) has been developed to guide partners with the initiative.
    
• We will progress through the phased achievement of three broad targets: stabilize the population at 50,000 by June 2011; grow to the 2006 level of 60,000 Cadets by June 2013; and continue to grow up to the authorized strength of 70,000 Cadets by June 2016.
    
• First and foremost, CPGI is aimed at initiatives that will help with keeping Cadets interested and enrolled in the program longer.  Extending the time each Cadet remains in the program, even by a few months, will increase the Cadet population significantly.
    
• The CPGI will maintain the best attraction and retention practices of the past, and will introduce and share new thinking and exciting new initiatives in the short, mid and long terms to grow the Cadet population.
    
• Cadets are extremely proud of the program and have a huge desire to share their experiences.  They are as concerned as the adults when they see the membership in their corps/squadrons dropping off.  We need to tap into their energy and ideas, and their passion for the Cadet Program. We must engage them more during the CPGI, and give them a greater role alongside the adults to discuss the problems and generate and deliver on growth initiatives.
    
• The situation does not call for significant changes to training activities.  Instead, initiatives are focused on improving the quality of how we deliver the program at the local level in order to offer a first class experience to Cadets that adds to their desire to stay involved longer.  This includes ways and means of improving support to the staff delivering the program in their local communities.
    
• We must do a better job in telling the Cadet Program’s story, and in getting that story out.