General Information
What is tagging?
Tagging is the major way cadets fundraiser. Twice a year, cadets are sent in pairs to locations around the city. Typically, more senior cadets are paired with new cadets to help teach newer cadets how tagging works. Cadets stand outside these locations (such as Walmart, Shoppers Drug Mart, grocery stores, Canadian Tire, and some Tim Horton’s Donuts), with a box full of tags. The cadets ask benefactors if they would like to support Army Cadets, and the benefactor can put money in the sealed cash box. Shifts are typically 3 hours long, although there are a few special shifts that are longer
Why do we do this?
The Department of National Defence (DND) does cover the cost of uniforms and some resources for the Army Cadets. 100% of the remaining funding for the Army League Cadets is the responsibility of the local cadet corps. The Support Committee works hard during the year to make relationships with locations so that we have the best opportunity to raise the most money.
What do we use tagging money for?
Entry into parades (Such as Canada Day and Santa Claus).
Hot dinners and snacks for cadets during FTX, Christmas Mess dinner, Year-end BBQ.
Funding for trophies and takeaways for award winners, and Firewood and fuel for heaters on winter FTX.
Training equipment permits for training locations outside the bases sports equipment.
Optional Trips, like Rock Climbing, trampoline park, or year-end trips.
Special uniform pieces not covered by the DND, such as name tags, sashes, balmorals, corps cap brass (instead of generic ones) on berets, swords, pace sticks, and flag party belts
Paper to use in the office to print permissions sheets, kit lists, and lessons.
The 2814 Army Cadet phone line and internet and website
Many other items in our $40,000+ yearly budget.
What to do when tagging:
The difference between getting a donation and not getting a donation can be as simple as smiling and saying hello! Here are some tips for a successful tagging event:
Be polite to everyone who passes by you, regardless of their behaviour.
Ask everyone who passes by you “Good (Evening/Morning/Afternoon ) Ma’am/Sir would you like to make a Donation to Army Cadets?”
End every conversation with “Have a nice day!”
Speak up! Be loud enough, clear with your words, and to the point, chances are they’ll only take a couple of seconds to pass by you.
You don’t have to stand still for 3 hours. Move around a bit to get the blood flowing in your legs.
Some people want to chat with you. Tell them about your cadet experiences – camp, events you’ve enjoyed, what made you join, what you like best.
If someone is rude to you, don’t engage. Some people, sadly, are like that. We don’t want other people to see you being rude back. We always want people to have good interaction with us.
What not to do when tagging:
Don’t leave your assigned location. In the past, there was a tornado warning and we had to bring in cadets early. If you’re not where we were expecting you to be, it can be dangerous to you and the rest of your carload of cadets. Don’t leave your partner alone. That is a security risk for both of you.
Don’t slouch, chew gum, take long breaks, talk on your phone, put in earbuds to listen to music.
Don’t be in the way, but don’t hide, either. Make it convenient for them to donate.
Don’t open your tagging boxes to see how much you have in there. If benefactors or drivers see you opening the box, it can look like you’re stealing, even if you’re not. That’s not a good impression.
What to say when tagging?
What is Army Cadets? It is the biggest youth organization in Canada that helps young people between the ages of 12-19. Cadets develop leadership skills and independence. Even better, though, tell them about your experience!
We just donated to you last week. There are 5 cadet groups (air cadet squadrons and army cadet corps in Kitchener and Cambridge) who have a slightly overlapping tagging area. You can mention that it was probably one of the other area corps or squadrons, as each group is only allowed to tag twice a year – once in the spring and once in the fall. But don’t argue with them.
If you get told you are not supposed to be there..
Sometimes there is a communication problem between the person we get permission from, and the person who is managing that day. We do have management or owner permission to be at every location where we send cadets, as well as a permit from the city of Hamilton.. When other groups show up, they are often not supposed to be there. You can go inside the store, ask to speak to the manager. We will send every cadet pair with the permission slips for the locations so that they can remind the store staff. Unfortunately, sometimes, different managers give permissions to more than one group, so we might have to share the space. If you’re not comfortable with this, call home base, we’ll assist you in figuring it out
Health and safety:
If you ever feel in danger, go inside the store and call the tag day coordinator number – make sure you get a slip of paper with the Support Committee phone numbers on it before you leave for your first shift of the weekend. If a person ever attempts to steal your box let them have it, and get inside the store. Your safety is worth much more than the box. If someone insults you, 2814 Army Cadets, or the Canadian Armed forces, do not fight back. Most of the time, people around will defend you. If no one is around, say “I’m sorry you feel that way” and just ignore them until they leave. If you feel unsafe, go inside.
Eat a meal before you come to tagging. Every year, we have a few cadets who we have to rescue out at their locations, but when we pull in a sick cadet, we have to pull in their partner as well. That means two boxes are no longer out in the field. If a bite of dinner (on Thursday or Friday) or breakfast (on Saturday and Sunday) can help keep you feeling well, that’s an easy fix. If a 5-minute break will help you feel better, please do that, too. Bring your water bottles with you to your locations. Keep them in a safe place where you’re not going to trip over them or cause anyone else to trip.
Dress for the weather. We’ve had tornado warnings. We’ve had heatwaves. We’ve had snow and rain. We try to send cadets to locations where they will be out of the weather, but please dress for the weather. If you’re soaking wet 30 minutes into your shift, you’re not going to enjoy the remaining 2 and a half hours.
Tagging Shift and location information:
Our home base for tagging is our Training Office at 650 Catherine Street North. On the tagging weekend, there will be tagging on 4 days:
Thursday. Arrive at the base for 5:00 pm. You will be dismissed from the base by 9:15.
Friday. Arrive at the base at 5:00 pm. You will be dismissed from the base by 9:15.
Saturday. Arrive at the base at 8:30 am. Lunch will be provided to you. You will be dismissed from the base by 5:00 pm
Sunday Arrive at the base at 12:30 pm. You will be dismissed by 4:15.