“C’est super cool” was the phrase of the day May 23, during 14 Wing Greenwood’s visit from École Rose des Vents’ Expériences Canada’s exchange student group.
The reciprocal exchange program partners youth ages 12 to 17 from different schools and provides them with an opportunity to learn about Canada’s diverse histories and cultures, while creating new friendships. May 21 to 28, École Rose des Vents’ students had the pleasure of hosting their own “twins” from Quebec City and, during their stay, shared a variety of culturally significant locations across Nova Scotia. No visit to the Valley would be complete without a tour of the largest air force base on the East Coast.
In the morning, excited teenagers climbed the many floors up to the air traffic control tower’s observation deck, stopping along the way to learn about the ATCT’s training and simulations capabilities. Students had a tour of 413 (Transport and Rescue) Squadron, where they learned about all the different equipment required for a search and rescue mission. The group also had the opportunity to walk through static displays of both the CH149 Cormorant helicopter and the CC130 Hercules plane, before gathering outside the hangar for a parachuting demonstration. The students were also put to work: one student, assisted by SAR technician Warrant Officer Fernando Bianco, radioed the aircraft to notify the crew the drop zone party was in position; after the demo, a team of volunteers joined the SAR-Techs to help bundle the parachutes. The group finished its tour at 14 Air Maintenance Squadron, where students learned about aircraft maintenance and Greenwood’s CP140 Aurora community. The wing’s mission to provide a memorable experience for the visiting youth was a success, as one teen commented the 14 Wing tour was her favorite stop during the week-long visit.
