About the Cadet Summer Training Centre

History and Heritage

HMCS ONTARIO began life as Cadet Camp Frontenac sailing camp on 4 July 1977, and for four years offered sail training to cadets from around Ontario.  On 13 July 1981, the centre was officially re-designated as HMCS ONTARIO Cadet Summer Training Establishment thus allowing ONTARIO to expand and to offer a wider range of training opportunities to sea cadets from across Ontario, and eventually Canada.    

Today, the training centre offers training in disciplines such as music, sail, seamanship, drill and ceremonial and the two week general training course.  In addition to the main skills, all courses include sports, instructional technique, and leadership training.  The course durations of two, three and six weeks represent ascending levels of experience and greater challenge; providing a definitive learning experience for cadets, designed to augment and enhance training from their hometown corps.

In the summer months ONTARIO's small cadre of full time staff are supplemented by 110 officers, non-commissioned members and civilian instructors of the Cadet Organizations Administration and Training Services (COATS) and 114 of the top sea cadets in the region who are offered advanced leadership training through employment as staff cadets.  Over the course of each summer, ONTARIO delivers training to over 800 cadets, young men and women aged 12 to 16.

Since 1982 HMCS ONTARIO's main headquarters has been located at CFB Kingston, and each summer the main training centre is hosted on campus by the Royal Military College of Canada.