Major Howard Mar was the first officer employed as the Region Cadet Music Advisor for (then) Prairie Region.  His entire life was defined by immense creativity and an entrepreneurial spirit that made an incalculable impact on thousands of cadet musicians, not only in Prairie Region but across the nation.  He created and directed the Cadet Honour Band of Prairie Region which produced an impressive tour across the span of the region, performing at the great concert halls of the Prairies.  He also produced and directed the only National Cadet Tattoo held in Edmonton of 1999.  The tattoo was an extravaganza celebrating the Canadian Cadet Program. After his military service Howard Mar served in a variety of positions including Provincial Chairperson of the Air Cadet League of Canada – Manitoba Provincial Committee.  He was also a National Governor of the Air Cadet League of Canada.

The Major Howar Mar Memorial Scholarship is an initiative that has been spearheaded by alum of the Prairie Region (now Northwest Region) Cadet Music Program, in which Major Mar was the architect of.  A great many former cadets who took part in the program have gone on to successful careers both inside and outside music.  As a former National Governor, we feel that the Air Cadet League of Canada is an appropriate home for a scholarship that will ensure the sustainability of a scholarship, and properly pay tribute to Major Mar.

 While we are still finalizing details of the scholarship, we have presented a proposal to the Air Cadet League of Canada’s National Board of Governors that received broad support.  In this proposal, the League will facilitate the acceptance and disbursement of the scholarships while issuing (Canadian) tax receipts.

Details:

• three scholarships of $1,000 each, awarded annually to three cadets from any element (not just Air) from Northwest Region who are applying for post secondary education in a music-related field,
• candidates for the scholarship will be evaluated on an audition and an interview, with selection criteria based on a combination of musical excellence and leadership ability,
• goal is to fundraise $10,000 every three years, primarily reaching out to alum of the program, but also to other community organizations that Major Mar had impacted,
• a steering committee of made of alum of the Prairie/Northwest Region Cadet Music Program will be convened to:
     o Select juries for the selection process
     o Oversee the selection process
     o Oversee and coordinate the fundraising effort

We are hoping to award scholarships to the first cohort of recipients in June 2021.