It started out innocently enough and whoa ... 50 years later, Ken Turner is having to say goodbye to the more formal aspect of an interesting career as a military commander/instructor and mentor.
Turner has "aged out" as they say, having reached 65, which means formal retirement with the 2901 Estevan (Elks) Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry (PPCLI) Royal Canadian Army Cadet Corps and as a member of the Canadian Militia Primary Reserve Force. His official final day was Sept. 25, so on Tuesday night (Oct. 2) the PPCLI cadets paid a special tribute to Turner who has helped the corps since the early 1970s, serving at one time or another as a training, supply and administration officer as well as commanding officer. He was also instrumental in assisting Robert Rooks in getting the Army Cadet Pipe and Drum band organized in 1978, serving as a drum major in the early years.
The military grabbed Turner's interest at an early age. In fact, he was just 15 and in Grade 9 when he joined the South Saskatchewan Regiment's Young Soldiers Training Program. That made him an official member of the Canadian Militia, but to do that, he needed not only a parental signature on an application form, but also the signature of someone "of standing" in the local community. Getting parental consent was not a problem since his father and grandfather had proudly served in the military. He's not sure who that other person was, but expects it was either the local police chief or mayor at the time ... what he did remember though, was that monthly cheque of around $10 that allowed him to buy a lot of candy and fun items at Mathers' News in downtown Estevan in those days. The training sessions were held in the abandoned hangar at the old Estevan Airport that had been a Commonwealth pilot training school during the Second World War. It's also where the Wylie-Mitchell Air Cadet Squadron made their headquarters.
"We trained every Saturday and got paid about $2.50 for the day," Turner said.
After graduating from high school, Turner struck out for Calgary, picking up chemical technology classes at SAIT and while enrolled in classes there, he continued with his military reserve training with the King's Own Calgary Regiment.
"I still didn't know what I wanted to do, so I went on to the University of Saskatchewan, Regina Campus, which was what it was known as then. I shuffled myself into education classes and enrolled in the Royal Canadian Air Force University Reserve Training Plan. That was short-lived, about a year and a half, but I was promoted to pilot officer and discharged and then was approved for supplementary reserve status," Turner said.
"What that meant was, there was no actual plan for those of us who had been in these programs," he said with a chuckle. That went on for five years and in 1973 he joined the Weyburn Army Cadet Corps as an officer and got involved in helping the PPCLI Army Cadets get underway in Estevan and he's been a vital factor in their success ever since.
"I transferred to Midale to teach and came to Estevan and was interested in working with the air cadets at the time. I talked with their CO at the time and he said he'd get back to me, and never did, so when I got a call from Robert Rooks to see if I would be interested in working with the new army cadet corps, I decided to get involved again on the army side. He was short staffed at the time and the program was growing and soon grew to include the pipe and drum band."
While he is no longer eligible to wear the Canadian uniform as a military officer, he'll still get the opportunity to wear it as one of the current aides de camps for Saskatchewan Lt.-Gov. Hon. Vaughn Solomon-Schofield. He received that appointment in April of this year.
Turner said he'll still be available to young cadets and other young men and women engaged in the Duke of Edinburgh program and could still help out as a civilian instructor if required.
While serving as an officer with the cadets and in the primary reserves, Turner said the pay increased a bit, but no military reservist or cadet officer ever does the work for the money, since you get paid only for a couple of hours on a regular training night once a week. All the additional hours are provided as a volunteer.
"The army cadets in Estevan are now a stable entity in the city and I'm pleased with that. They still help make things happen in this city," he said.
Turner noted that when he re-upped with the reserve forces, he did so with no conditions, which meant that if Canada had ever been hit with a major crisis or situation, these primary reservists could have been deployed. That's the primary reservist's role.
Turner has never had second thoughts about his sidebar career as a military man. The pay was peanuts, but the work was rewarding.
"I don't know why I stayed so involved for so long, except to say that I like the military way of doing things sometimes. It's structured. The rewards for the cadets can be huge and they accept their challenges and those rewards come when they're willing to put in the effort. It's great to see and be a part of that," he said.
Ken's son, James, got involved in the cadets in 1989 and with the Duke of Edinburgh program too. That program is one that grooms future leaders through a series of physical and mental challenges over an extended period of time. Turner noted that army, air and navy cadets are good candidates for the program since they are encouraged to take on leadership.
When he wasn't involved in the cadet and military pursuits, Turner found time to teach for 30 years, two years in Crane Valley, six in Creelman and 22 in Midale, mainly focusing on physics, chemistry and biology. He still does a little substitute teaching when called upon.
Turner said he doesn't know where his emotions are as he steps aside from the formal military roles.
"Because I'm not stepping back completely, it's a bit mixed. I still get to wear the uniform when I'm serving the lieutenant-governor but not on Tuesday nights with the cadets," he said. He served the Estevan PPCLI cadets for nine years as captain and CO along with those other officer roles. Captain Craig Bird is the current CO.
"I got my third bar on my uniform from the lieutenant-governor just the other day, marking my 42 official years," he said with a smile.
Turner said he looks back with pride on special events and trips taken with cadets to Calgary, Shilo, Wainwright and Edmonton as well as on campouts and courses. He has also served for five years at the regional cadet instructor school in Winnipeg.
His other volunteer excursions have taken him to the Midale 100th anniversary committee and celebrations and design of their trade dollar, Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Midale Lions Club, Salvation Army and the Estevan Royal Canadian Legion, where he has been a member for 22 years.
Turner is also a strong supporter of the Souls Harbour Mission in Regina and the Metochos Church Camp near Midale.
"I guess it's been one leap of faith to another leap of faith and then another for about 50 years," he said with a laugh, when asked what compelled him to keep on going in these programs.
"It's been fun and rewarding."
That pretty well sums it up.
