Corporal Taylor Major was recently awarded the 2022 Royal Canadian Air Forces Reserve Deserving Junior NCM of the Year.
An aviation systems technician at 440 Transport Squadron in Yellowknife, NWT. In her current role, she is responsible for quality assurance for air readiness and aircraft maintenance on the CC-138 Twin Otters.
Having grown up in Black Creek, with no military family or experience, Major didn鈥檛 envision herself where she is today. She has been in the shop at 440 Squadron since 2015.
She believed she had received the award because she is often working above her rank level in the aircraft maintenance control records office. While her enthusiasm and hard work are award-worthy in themselves, this award was for something other.
Major fell in love with Yellowknife and what it offered, but she also noticed what was lacking. She founded the Yellowknife Young Parents Program, the first of its kind in the North, providing pregnant high school students and their support people with free programming to assist them in facing their unique challenges. The cause hit close to home for Major 鈥� she was a recipient of a similar program. Major graduated from GP Vanier in 2005, and is an alumna of the school鈥檚 Today 鈥楴 Tomorrow Learning Society鈥檚 Young Parent Program.
鈥淚 had my first daughter when I was 17 and I wouldn鈥檛 have graduated high school if this program didn鈥檛 exist for me. I graduated on time with my class.鈥�
Recognizing the need, but also keenly aware of the potential, she took it upon herself to get it started. In 2019, she created a board, and the program runs every Thursday afternoon. They are currently fundraising for a daycare for young parents who are also students.
Major said she had been posted to Yellowknife and decided to switch from Regular Force to Reserve Force in order to remain in Yellowknife.
鈥淚 loved raising a family here and I knew we wanted to stay,鈥� said the mother of four. 鈥淭he Air Reserves presented the opportunity to make that happen.鈥�
Major鈥檚 family is heavily involved in the community, playing a variety of sports and enjoying the 鈥榗ity life鈥� unique to Yellowknife.
鈥淭he opportunities that exist in Yellowknife don鈥檛 exist elsewhere,鈥� said Major. 鈥淲e are a capital city. I鈥檝e never lived in a city where you can walk to a farmers market or restaurants, we are downtown but we also live on a lake.鈥�
Major is thankful for her squadron鈥檚 support, which allows her the time and freedom to pursue endeavours outside of work. She ran her first marathon in October 2022.
鈥淚鈥檓 excited to run many more in the future,鈥� she said. In the short term, she was selected for the Canadian Armed Forces Running Nationals and will compete in the five-kilometre race.
鈥淩unning has become a meaningful part of my life,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t keeps me feeling mentally strong and fit.鈥�
Major presents as very capable and eager. She is grateful for the opportunities that have come her way because of her employment in the Canadian Armed Forces and tries to use her powers for good, giving back to the community and her squadron who have supported her. She is enthusiastic about 440 Transport Squadron, the Air Reserves, and Yellowknife, and speaks about her time in service as being a 鈥渇amily鈥� environment, full of 鈥渢eam players鈥� that 鈥渞ely on each other.鈥� According to the nomination letter for the award:
Cpl. Major鈥檚 exemplary professionalism, Sqn on and community involvement and academic advancement reflect favourably upon herself, 440 Transport Sqn, Team North and the Canadian Armed Forces. She continues to be an inspiration to others and personifies the vision of what we desire in a CAF member.
Bravo zulu to Corporal Major on this achievement and her many endeavours.
