Why Become a Member
808 (THUNDERBIRD) WING Royal Canadian Air Force Association P.O. Box 123, Nanaimo, BC V9R 5K4 | 719 Nanaimo Lakes Road, Nanaimo, B.C. V9R 3C2
WHO ARE WE? The Royal Canadian Air Force Association was formed following World War II as a non-profit organization whose aims were mainly to support retired Air Force personnel. Individual Wings were formed in communities that had populations of retired Air Force individuals along with civilians who were interested in aviation. 808 (Thunderbird) Wing in Nanaimo BC received its charter in 1966.
WHAT DO WE DO? The aims of 808 Wing include support of youth, primarily Air Cadets, along with supporting its members and other general community responsibilities. We provide social activities for our members in a building built and paid for by members. The structure also provides offices and classrooms for 205 (Collishaw) Air Cadet Squadron.
WHY JOIN? Everyone is affected by the ongoing government cut backs with seniors and youth being vulnerable targets. Seniors are affected by cuts to a variety of services, lengthy wait lists for medical treatments and even outliving their pensions. Many youth programs including cadet organizations are subject to death by a million cuts; all the while it is an undeniable fact that youth programs such as cadets are successful in teaching life skills, developing better citizens, and fostering the community and business leaders of tomorrow. People may shake their heads at the ‘youth today’ but the kids that go through the cadet programs are people to be proud of.
It takes money to run a cadet program and the government funds are squeezed. 808 Wing, as the official sponsor of 205 (Collishaw) Air Cadet Squadron, is working to enhance their programs by making sure they have the funds for everything they need including but not limited to scholarships for post secondary studies. We need more Wing members to help us help them.
We need to provide better support for some of our more senior Wing members. Again, it is a fact that being socially active keeps people healthier in both mind and body. We need younger members to help arrange transport, to document the fascinating stories of our members, and to help them get the most out of the limited resources that the government provides.
HOW CAN YOU HELP? We need members with new ideas and energy to help us raise funds for our youth, and to help make the lives of our older members more secure. You can do this by joining 808 Wing.
INTERESTED IN FINDING OUT MORE? Contact: 808wing@gmail.com and look for us on Facebook.
Proud sponsors of 205 (Collishaw) Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Cadets