The Team

Captain Shawn Fowler

Captain Shawn Fowler began his cadet career in September 1988 as an Air Cadet at 715 Mohawk Squadron RCACC in Burlington, Ontario. He credits the 3 years he served with 715 for instilling in him his sense of service to the cadet program and to the community. Lt Fowler returned to the Canadian Cadet Organization (CCO) as a Civilian Volunteer in 2013, a Civilian Instructor (CI) in 2015 and then enrolled in the Canadian Armed Forces through the Cadet Instructor Cadre on February 9, 2017. Lt Fowler was commissioned in 2018 and promoted to his current rank in June 2022. Lt Fowler has occupied the role of Star Level Instructor and has been the Training Officer (TrgO) since the 2018-2019 Training Year.

Captain Fowler attended Laurentian University in Sudbury from 1993-1998 and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) degree in Social Science (Law and Justice) and a Master of Arts in Interdisciplinary Humanities. He currently is a Senior Auto Physical Damage Claims Adjuster with CUMIS General Insurance in Burlington and is pursuing the Certified Insurance Professional (CIP) Designation.

Capt. Fowler lives in Hamilton with his wife Janice and his two children, Doviron and Corvalia.

Captain Jodi Mitchell

Captain Jodi Mitchell began her interest in the military at the young age of 13 when she joined the #748 G.G.H.G. Army Cadet Corps in Markham. She was able to progress through the ranks reaching the position of Cadet RSM. When she aged out, she joined the Canadian Armed Forces primary reserve as an officer in the 49th Field Artillery Regiment, Sault Ste. Marie. She completed her phase RESO training in Gagetown, New Brunswick and was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant. From 1992 to 1996 she held positions as a reconnaissance and fire direction officer within the regiment. Upon graduating from university with a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice, Captain Mitchell moved to the Oakville area and transferred to the Cadet Instructors Cadre. She initially worked with the #440 Appleby College Cadet corps in Oakville, holding positions of Training Officer, DCO and eventually Commanding Officer. In 2009 she transferred to the #2379 RHLI RCACC Burlington, where she has held positions of training officer, DCO and Commanding Officer.

Captain Mitchell recently retired from the Toronto Police Service after 27 years of service where she held the rank of Sergeant. She has worked in various units including the Community response unit at Division 23, the major crime unit, the Gun and Gang Task Force and the Major Project Section. In December 2012 she was seconded to the RCMP and spent one year in Afghanistan as part of a multi-national force training the Afghan National Police.

Captain Mitchell is the recipient of the European Security and Defence Policy Medal for Afghanistan, the Peacekeeping medal, the Queen's Golden Jubilee medal, the Canadian Forces Decoration with bar and the Police Exemplary Service Medal.

She has been married for the past 25 years to her husband Lockie, a recently retired officer with the Royal Canadian Artillery.

Captain Ron Harris

Captain Ron Harris, CD1 was introduced to the Canadian Forces in 1995 as a cadet in the 2379 RHLI Army Cadet Corps. In the Army Cadets he eventually progressed to the rank of Chief Warrant Officer (Regimental Sergeant Major).

In 2000, he joined the Primary Reserves as a Non-commissioned Member of the Royal Hamilton Light Infantry (Wentworth Regiment). He successfully completed his QL-2 (Basic Infantry) Course that year. In 2002, having felt a strong desire to work with the Army Cadets again, he began volunteering as an instructor with the 2347 Argyll & Sutherland Highlander Cadet Corps. In 2003, he enrolled in the Cadet Instructor Cadre as an Officer Cadet and was appointed Training Officer of the 2379 Army Cadets. During the summer, he also served as a Platoon Commander for Blackdown Army Cadet Summer Training Centre. He returned to this position again in the summer of 2004.

In 2004, Mr. Harris was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant and in 2005 he was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant. In 2008 Mr. Harris was appointed to the position of Deputy Commanding Officer. In 2009 he was promoted to the rank of Captain and appointed Commanding Officer of 2379 Army Cadets Corps.

Following his tenure as Commanding Officer he served in various capacities with 2379 Army Cadets including the appointments of Training Officer, Deputy Commanding Officer and Course Officer for Green Star, Gold Star and Master Cadet levels.

Capt Harris relocated his personal residence to Brampton and then transferred to the 105 Royal Canadian Artillery Army Cadet Corps in Streetsville (Mississauga) in the fall of 2022 and served there as both Adjutant and Gold Star Course Officer.

In the fall of 2024 Capt Harris transferred back to 2379 Army Cadets to assume the position of Training Officer.

Capt Harris holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree (BA) from McMaster University in History and another BA in Political Science.

In his civilian career, Capt Harris has served as an Officer with the Canada Border Services Agency since 2005 and currently resides in Brampton with his wife and daughter.

Civilian Instructor Phil Harris, Captain (Retired)

Captain Harris joined the Canadian Armed Forces and completed Basic Training at Cornwallis, Nova Scotia in October, 1972. He later served as a Non-Commissioned Member of the Grey and Simcoe Foresters and Lorne Scots, Halton, Peel and Dufferin infantry reserve regiments as a anti-tank gunner, mortarman, small arms coach and section commander. He was commissioned from the ranks as a Second Lieutenant. During his tenure with the Lorne Scots he served as a H.Q. Intelligence Officer and "C" Company Platoon Commander prior to his transfer to the Supplementary Ready Reserve.

In 1995 Captain Harris resumed his commission as a member of the Cadet Instructor Cadre with the 2379 (RCACC) Royal Hamilton Light Infantry Cadet Corps. He served as the Training Officer and DCO and established a competitive shooting program, trained highly skilled Cadet Challenge competitors and introduced the Duke of Edinburgh program to the corps. Captain Harris previously served as Commanding Officer of the Corps from 2003 to 2006.

In his civilian occupation Captain Harris is the Chief of Operations at the John C. Munroe, Hamilton International Airport. He has 35 years of service in the CBSA, formerly Canada Customs, and is the recipient of the Peace Officer Exemplary Service Medal with Maple Leaf and Bar. Captain Harris became a recipient of the Queens Jubilee Medal this year. He has been married for 31 years to his wife April and has two sons, Ron and Matt, both of whom were previous RSMs and in the case of Captain Ronald Harris, a previous Commanding Officer of the corps.