The federal Department of National Defence has confirmed it will go ahead with planning to build a multi-purpose cadet facility in Whitehorse.

“The need here is for a year-round building,” David Laxton, the national vice-president (Western Arctic) of the Army Cadet League of Canada, told the Star this week.

Laxton is also the Speaker of the Yukon legislature.

Premier Darrell Pasloski recently received a letter from the department indicating that plans are moving forward for the facility, Laxton told attendees of last Thursday evening’s Changing of Command ceremony in Whitehorse.

“This was just confirmation that it would, in fact, carry on,” he said.

It’s a project that’s been worked on for many years.

“Many years ago, the (Royal Canadian) Legion had to sell our building. The (cadets) had to move out,” Laxton explained.

“We had a rough several years of moving around.”

Now, the Whitehorse cadets share space at École Whitehorse Elementary School with the local air cadets squadron.

The buildings at the Whitehorse Cadet Summer Training Centre aren’t all winterized – hindering the cadets’ opportunities for sports and recreation activities in unfavourable weather.

A multi-use facility would also enable other groups to have training space, such as the Junior Canadian Rangers, other visiting military units or even the RCMP, Laxton added.

Furthermore, the cadets have a lot of equipment and a need for permanent storage.

Currently, training equipment is being kept in a sea can due to a lack of storage.

“It would be much more convenient for them to have a year-round place to have weekly or monthly meetings,” said Yukon MP Larry Bagnell.

As it stands now, the government is in the design phase, Bagnell said.

Construction would likely start in the summer of 2017, he added.

The federal government-funded project will cost about $4 million.

Pasloski has promised $250,000 toward the building, Laxton said.

No location has been set yet.

Bagnell indicated it would likely be at the Boyle Barracks – a 180-hectare site south of Whitehorse, designated for cadet training programs in the summer months.

The MP hopes to continue to liaise with the Department of National Defence and future users of the building as the project progresses.

As for Laxton, he hopes to meet with department officials when he is in Ottawa next week.

“As things move along, I’m hoping they’ll let me know what’s happening,” he said.

Laxton hopes having a designated cadet space will encourage more kids to get involved the programs, offered at no fee from the federal government.

“Cadet programs and Junior Ranger programs are wonderful,” said Laxton, having been in the cadet program himself back in the late ’60s.

“Some of the stuff I learned there got me where I am now.”

More than 250 cadets attend summer training courses at the training centre in Whitehorse in July and August.

There are about 70 cadets in Whitehorse during the rest of the year, Bagnell said.

The cadet training centre is the only permanent cadet camp in the North.