Smooth Sailing is a 10 minute character driven one-off documentary about the history and current goings-on with Royal Canadian Sea Cadet Corps Swiftsure, the corps based out of Brandon, Manitoba.

 

When you think of Brandon, Manitoba, many different things come to mind; it’s a growing city, a multicultural haven, and a proud community.

But there’s one critical aspect missing from this picture, and it’s one that’s often overlooked or forgotten. Simply put, it’s Brandon’s, if not Canada’s, best kept secret.

For more than 70 years, Royal Canadian Sea Cadet Corps Swiftsure has been an integral part of Brandon and surrounding communities. From ceremonies to community service, their uniform is recognizable to many citizens across the city. Their history is rich and their community connection is as strong now as it’s ever been.

But what is a sea cadet corps doing in the middle of the Prairies? This province boasts a hundred thousand lakes, but we’re a long way from the Atlantic or the Pacific. How – and why – do the sea cadets survive – and thrive – in what’s basically a land-locked province?

Follow us on our journey as we explore the history, the management, and the current goings-on of one of Brandon’s oldest youth groups. We speak with former cadets who have gone on to make careers in the Royal Canadian Navy, as well as current cadets to find out how their experiences in the corps are helping shape their lives.

After you’ve weathered the storm, it’s all Smooth Sailing.