He may no longer be commander-in-chief of the local cadet corps, but William Dobson will continue to play a part in the local 1943 Royal Canadian Army Cadets.
Minto councillors recently recognized the long-standing involvement of Dobson.
Mayor David Anderson said William Dobson was born and raised in Palmerston and that he attended Norwell District Secondary School.
It was there that Dobson was first introduced to the military by enrolling in 1943 Royal Canadian Army Cadets as a cadet from 1982 until 1988.
In 1988, he enrolled directed into the Canadian Armed Forces Reserves as an Officer in the Cadet Instructors List.
Dobson was commissioned as an officer on June 4, 1989 and received his commission scroll by the 11th Field Artillery, which is is still affiliated with the local unit. His first position was the Training Officer with 1943 cadets.
Captain Dobson attended Fanshawe College and the University of Western Ontario from 1989 to 1995 earning a diploma in Fitness and Health Promotion and a BA in English and Kinesiology. During that period, he filled the role of a Training Officer in London and St. Thomas.
He then worked as the training officer with the Toronto Scottish Cadet Corps while he was employed as a kinesiologist at at physiotherapy clinic.
Dobson then returned to Palmerston for one year and filled the role of Administration Officer with the 1943 cadets.
Once again, he moved to accommodate his occupation as an accident benefits adjuster with Allstate Insurance in Toronto. While there, he served as a Training Officer with the 2525 Pickering Cadet Corps.
Dobson returned to the 1943 in the fall of 2000 as the Training Officer and took over command on June 2, 2001.
He is currently employed at Crawford and Company, in Guelph. He and his wife, Lisa, live in Palmerston with their children Cyrus, Jacob, and Kaleigh.
Dobson said the cadet program in Palmerston started in 1943 and “is one of the best organizations for kids.”
The program is free and open to guys or girls.
“You can be a jock, strong competitor, in math, an outdoors person … We can find a program for them.”
Dobson said summer camps range from two to six weeks, and are completely free. Cadets have gone off to Scotland, Wales, and Banff. “We’ve got a lot of good staff.”
Though the typical time commanding the unit is only three or four years, Dobson was there for 10. By that time, he and his wife had adopted three children and the workload was getting too much.
He said he and the person taking over are essentially switching jobs.
“I started cadets when I was 12 and I’m not getting out of the cadet corps until I’m kicked out when I’m 65.”
He said the move will give some fresh blood and ideas and give him more time to spend with his family.
