Another year, another review and another set of promotions and awards for the No. 209 Navy League Cadets of Canada Venture (NLCC).

Last Friday, the local cadet corps held its annual review.

Cadet Shaelan Willson was recognized for her hard work at the provincial level as she took home the Cadet Medal of Excellence. Only four cadets across B.C. are chosen for the award.

Willson was the only one chosen for the award from the Interior.

The 12-year-old said she was happy to receive the award.

There are 13 navy cadet corps in B.C., Commanding Officer for NLCC Venture Lieutenant Commander Edward Finnigan said.

“I wish there was a sea cadet corps here, she could move on to that because she’d make an excellent sea cadet,” Finnigan said.

Willson was also promoted to chief petty officer second class.

Three more of the six local cadets at the review received promotions as well.

“We can’t just slap a promotion on somebody and say, ‘Here you go.’ They have to earn it,” Finnigan said.

Megan Grant, Cole Schultz and Carter Wilkins were promoted from PO2 (petty officer second class) to PO1 (petty officer first class).

The Leadership Award went to PO2 Grant and Wilkins.

PO2 Grant also took home the Academic Award.

The award for most improved cadet award went to leading cadet Jordan Morash.

“This is kind of a hard decision because you don’t really want to single one person out from the rest, but there’s always one that seems to shine a little brighter as the end of the year starts coming,” Finnigan said.

The Best Dressed Award went to PO2 Schultz this year and the Commanding Officer’s Award was given to cadet Willson.

Finnigan said the Commanding Officer’s Award is probably the hardest to win as he doesn’t like to pick one cadet as being the best.

None of the cadets was able to claim perfect attendance, but an honourable mention went to Grant.

Cadet Grant missed just two parades throughout the whole year, Finnigan said.

At the end of the review, Finnigan expressed how proud he is of his cadets.

“You should all be very proud of yourselves because I’m very proud of you,” he told the group.

There are seven cadets in this year’s group, which is smaller than last year. Six of the seven cadets attended the review.

Finnigan said pride and citizenship are the values the navy league instills in its cadets.