HISTORY OF 861 SILVERFOX

The 861 Lions Squadron, as the Squadron was first known by, received its charter on August 18, 1978. Parading out of Hanger #2 at the Abbotsford Airport, our first Parade was on Sept. 13, 1978 under the Command of Captain Duncan Netzel. The original sponsor of 861 was the Abbotsford Lions Club.

After a few years the Squadron began parading at Peardonville Elementary School. In September 1986, the 861 RCACF Association took over the sponsorship of the Squadron.

Bradner May Day Parade 2023

As the Squadron grew, they moved to a larger building at 3265 McCallum Road North. A few years later they moved to the Cow Barn at Exhibition Grounds. Through a partnership with the 861 RCACF Wing, the City of Abbotsford and the Provincial Government, the 861 Squadron finally got their own building to call home. The Air Cadet Building has been our home since April 1991.

Level 4 Weekend - May 2023

Bradner May Day Parade - May 2023

In 2013, The Squadron Sponsoring Committee took over the full Sponsorship of the Squadron from the 861 RCACS Wing.

Level 4 Weekend - May 2023

Emergency Responder Night - May 2023

Emergency Responder Night - May 2023

Lesson with Sgt Harry - May 2023

A tremendous ‘Thank You!’ to all Officers and Volunteers who have made our Squadron what it is today.

Lesson with FSgt Shah - Spring 2023

Team Building Exercises

Lesson with WO2 McIntosh - Spring 2023

Lesson with WO2 McIntosh - Spring 2023

Biathlon Team at Competition - January 2023

861 (Lions) Squadron: Commanding Officers

1978 — 1990

Commanding Officer Years

Capt. Duncan Netzel Aug. 1978 Oct. 1983

Lt. Christopher Weicht Oct. 1983 Oct. 1984

Maj. George Leukfeld Nov. 1989 Jan. 1992

Maj. J.C.M. de Salaberry Nov. 1989 Jan. 1992

861 Silverfox Squadron: Commanding Officers

1990 — Present

Commanding Officer Years

Maj. J.C.M. de Salaberry Nov. 1989 Jan. 1992

Maj. Ian Anderson Jan. 1992 Jan. 1997

Capt. Donald Lavoie Jan. 1997 Mar. 1997

Maj. Brian Norris Mar. 1997 June 1997

Maj. Jim Happer June 1997 June 2000

Maj. JoAnn MacDonald June 2000 June 2004

Maj. Robert Hubley June 2004 Sept. 2007

Capt. Ernie Turra Sept. 2997 May 2009

Capt. Ted Bowman May 2009 June 2012

Maj. Melanie Taylor Sept. 2012 Sept. 2016

Capt. Lorna Martin Sept. 2016 Sept. 2018

Maj. JoAnn MacDonald Sept. 2018 June 2021

Maj. Andrew King June 2021 June 2022

Capt.Kevin Antrobus CD June 2022-Present

Commanding Officer s Message Captain Kevin Antrobus, CD

Before continuing on to the Year in Review, I want to take this opportunity to thank the Cadets, Parents, SSC and staff at 861 Silverfox. As a new officer to this Squadron, you have all been extremely helpful and welcomed me to the unit.

This year was an eventful year compared to the previous few years. I am glad we are starting to see some of our previous routines return to normal.

Starting during the summer, we managed to participate in a few events including the Canada Day Parade and Abbotsford Airshow. We were able to support the Abbotsford Airshow for the first time in years. We assisted with their setup and operated a Cadet information booth. We were also to coordinate a glider and Cessna 182 tow plane to be at our booth. The Squadron Sponsors did a fantastic job with the Air Show parking.

In September, I am proud that we were able to start up our optional teams such as Band, Biathlon, Marksmanship, First Aid, and Drill Team. The staff and senior Cadets worked hard to get these teams operational. Bravo Zulu to all involved in restarting these teams as their hard work and determination clearly show to here at our Annual Ceremonial Review. We managed to conduct the first FTX in Pacific Region for this training year. Again, your senior Cadets and staff stepped up to the plate and knocked it out of the park. The Cadets had a great time learning new survival skills in the Chilliwack training areas. We also had another Pacific Region first when we conducted our Mess Dinner. The Cadets learnt about mess traditions and had a great time in the process. Kudos to the WO Ward and WO Coloma. 861 Silverfox has participated in many competitions this year. Cadet Vallance took to the podium in the Junior category at the Biathlon Zone Competition and Cadet Unipan took home Top Shot in the Junior category at the Marksmanship Zone competition. We also put together a basketball team and competed in the 609 Steveston Basketball Classic. The Training Department was busy this year. We had an amazing turn out for our First Responders Night; where members of the Abbotsford Police Department, Abbotsford Fire Rescue and the Central Fraser Valley Search and Rescue all attended to show off the latest and greatest equipment and tech, while answering the many questions posed by our Cadets. We conducted a Field Training Exercise at Aldergrove Lake and have a large Squadron FTX next weekend.

We have a lot of Cadet going off the CTC and CAP this summer. I hope you all enjoy your courses. For those of you who are not going to CTC or CAP, please consider helping with Canada Day or the Abby Airshow.

861 Silverfox Squadron Staff

Cpl Afshar Oliver William

LAC Alemayo Elias

Cdt Basra Harjot

LAC Calalo Jaiden

Sgt Chooi Jaden

LAC Clark Addison

Sgt Coloma Aleesha

Typhoon

LAC Fuller William

Cdt Geisser Brooklynn

LAC Grewal Alexa

Cdt Kang Aden

LAC Macapugas Yzhekiel

Cpl MacKinnon Evan Cdt Mann Govind

Cdt Pascua Mc Harold

FSgt Patel Maitra

Cdt Patterson Robert

Cdt Paz Zavier Asael

Cpl Pitzel Ilse Ann

LAC Rai Harsimrat

FCpl Ramgarhia Harjot

Cdt Seafoot Xavier

Cpl Sekhon Armaan

Cdt Shergill Shay

FCpl Stevenson Anneke

LAC Verma Luvish

Cpl Wilkinson Jordyn

FCpl Batra Raissa FCpl

LAC Castex Aleia

Cdt Cucheran Aaron

LAC Deol Gurman

Cdt Dueck Nathaniel

Cpl Fuller Amelia

Silver

LAC Gill Yuvraaj

Sgt Harry Amanat

LAC Hendricks Zoren

Cdt Kaila Chahat

FCpl Kelly Ewan

Cpl Kim Jubok (Hanbin)

Sgt Leslie Bernard

LAC Millar Asher

Cdt Pham Ari

Cpl Sweder Chase

FCpl Sweder Justice

FSgt Truong Ky

Truong Zayden Nhat FCpl

Unipan Nevis Cpl

Ward Rebekah Cpl

Wen Jack LAC

Yang David Sgt

Squadron Commander Warrant Officer First Class Samuel Ward

Samuel Ward was born on 05/05/05 in Calgary, AB, making him an Alberta Centennial baby. The following year he and his family moved to Abbotsford, where they continue to reside. His family has been heavily involved in the Air Cadet Program since his oldest brother Elijah joined in September 2013. Because of his family’s involvement, he spent many days at the Squadron, during tag day weekends and other events, long before he joined the Squadron himself in May 2017.

Since joining the program, Samuel has participated in many teams and activities, such as Biathlon, the Physical Training Team, the Special Services Team, Flag Party, the Social Committee, and more. During the summers he attended General Training and Basic Drill and Ceremonial Camps. Last summer Samuel staffed at the Abbotsford/Chilliwack CAP Training Camp, earning a Commendation for his outstanding work.

Building on his time in Cadet Biathlon, Samuel was also able to earn a place on Team BC- Biathlon for two years and attended the BC Winter Games in 2020.

Samuel enjoys working with his fellow seniors and looks forward to continuing to mentor and pass on his knowledge to the cadets in his remaining time as the Squadron Commander. He hopes to make the Squadron the best it can be and hopes to develop an apt and capable next generation of Warrant Officers in the Squadron.

Samuel is fascinated by medicine and physiology and plans to continue developing his knowledge in that area after his graduation. In his spare time, he enjoys exercise, listening to music, spending time with his friends and family, playing video games- both competitively and for fun, and cross-country skiing.

Skyline Head Quarters

Cpl Bains Karman

FCpl Batra Rabbani

WO2 Coloma Raiden

FCpl Deng Katherine

Cdt Farnese Lauren

Sgt Flores Charlie

Cdt Grewal Zorawar

Cpl Hans Ajaypartap

Cdt Johnston Andrew

Cdt Keane Maya

Cdt Ko Taegeon

Sgt Kozlik Evan

Cdt Lancaster Noah

Cdt Lidher Shaandeep

LAC MacKinnon Lyla

FSgt Patel Prit FSgt

Sgt Rai Ramneet Sgt

LAC Schroeder Phoebe

LAC Sidhu Shaganpreet

LAC Visser Garrett

LAC Yuan Qiaojia

LAC Zaid Qanitah

WO2 Coloma Raiden

FSgt Cvitkovich Sydney

WO2 Dueck Faith

FSgt Gupta Adya

WO2 Kim Dohyun (Jacob)

WO2 McIntosh Cameron

FSgt Patel Maitra

Sgt Leslie Bernard

WO1 Ward Samuel

WO2 Wennerstrom Tanner