DECEMBER 2015, Volume #6 Issue #12 JANVIER DENE WOOD BUFFALO CADET CORP On November 18th the Janvier Dene Wood Buffalo Cadet Corp program was re-launched in Janvier. With the assistance of the Community Policing Youth Officers, Cst. Candice Djukic and Cst. Andrew Brock, local community members facilitate the program for the youth in the community. The Cadet Corp program is available to all youth in Janvier and provides an outlet where they can create a sense of belonging to a group, while also developing the necessary learning skills and knowledge to help them make healthy life choices. The program is scheduled to take place every Wednesday at the local school in Janvier. Each session will include a drill portion where the cadets will learn the proper techniques taught to them by the RCMP. The evening will also include activities that are specifically tailored to the needs and concerns of the youth with a strong emphasis on culture, education, sports and a healthy lifestyle. While this program provides a structured, safe environment for the youth to build necessary life skills, the objective is to provide youth the opportunity to build positive relationships with members of their community, other youth and the RCMP. THE ROYAL CANADIAN MOUNTED POLICE Wood Buffalo Detachment Fort McMurray, AB In This Issue 1 Janvier Dene Wood Buffalo Cadet Corp 2 RCMP vs. Greely Road School 2 On the Road Again to Conklin 3 Wood Buffalo RCMP Remembers 3 Youth Conference 4 Hunger for the Games 4 Winter Pet Safety 5 Gingerbread Jailhouse 5 Sod Turning at Legion 6 Community Policing Visits Fort Chipewyan 6 National Day of Remembrance for Road Crash Victims 6 A Career Nowhere Near Ordinary Royal Canadian Mounted Police
RCMP VS. GREELY ROAD SCHOOL On November 13th, the Wood Buffalo RCMP rounded up a team to participate in a volleyball game against the students of Greely Road School. The RCMP team, which included 1 Alberta Sheriff, received a warm welcome from all students and staff who were gathered in the gym eagerly anticipating their arrival. Members dressed in red serge and Monty the Safety Bear also paid a visit to the school to cheer on the RCMP team. The game was a very entertaining and intense match of skills and abilities, with the RCMP winning the first 2 sets and the students of Greely Road School winning the last set. The volleyball game was a huge success and the RCMP are looking forward to being invited to participate in other upcoming sporting events. ON THE ROAD AGAIN TO CONKLIN Wood Buffalo RCMP Community Policing members, Cpl. Cameron, Cst. McGrattan, Cst. Brock, and Cst. Napoleon ventured down Highway 881 to visit with the fine folks in Conklin on November 19th. The first stop was to Conklin Community School where Community Policing members visited with the students and helped them with some school work. The members were also challenged to a game of dodge ball and although the kids won most of the games, Cpl. Cameron managed to win one for the unit. An emphasis on playing safe and being respectful to one another was projected but most of all, it was fun for all involved! After the school visit, members made their way to the community center where seniors were about to play bingo. A nice lunch and pleasant conversation was shared with the seniors prior to bingo with classic country music playing in the background. Cpl. Cameron and Cst. McGrattan had to hold Cst. Napoleon back from dancing as the bingo was about to begin; maybe next time Cst. Napoleon will have her chance to two-step! 2 www.woodbuffalorcmp.ca
WOOD BUFFALO RCMP REMEMBERS On November 11th, a large contingent of Wood Buffalo RCMP members donned the Red Serge complete with Poppies to show respect and remember the brave men and women who paid the ultimate sacrifice in service of their country. It was also an opportunity to convey a tremendous appreciation to surviving veterans from all services. RCMP members attended Remembrance Day Ceremonies at MacDonald Island as well at the Royal Canadian Legion Fort McMurray Branch #165 by the Cenotaph which drew a crowd of about 200. This year is a significant one as it marks the 100th anniversary of the famous poem In Flanders Fields composed by Lieutenant-Colonel Jon McCrae in May of 1915. The Silver Cross Mother for this year was Mrs. Carolyn Bendfeld as chosen by the Fort McMurray Legion to lay the first wreath. Her son, Dale Bendfeld, who is a retired senior officer of the Canadian Army and is now the Director of Municipal Law Enforcement and RCMP Support for the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo, spoke at the ceremony and encouraged all to remember all past and present generations of veterans who have served our country. Schools in the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo also held Remembrance Day Ceremonies and members of Wood Buffalo RCMP Community Policing were honoured to attend. On November 6th, Anzac Community School and Fort McKay School held their ceremony and on November 10th, Beacon Hill School held theirs. YOUTH CONFERENCE On November 4th, the Fort McMurray Public School District held their annual Grade 7 youth conference. The conference was a one-day event which allowed Grade 7 students from across the city to attend Ecole McTavish and be educated on a variety of topics pertaining to their wellness. The conference started with special keynote speeches made by Oil Baron players, Ben Sharf and Tyler Dea who motivated students on the importance of hard work, determination, dedication, and resiliency. The Grade 7 s were then split into groups and attended various presentations throughout the day. Cst. Candice Djukic from the Community Policing Unit spent the day educating the Grade 7 s about the dangers and legal ramifications stemming from drug and alcohol abuse. A number of other community agencies were also present to provide information about active living, careers and bullying. At the end of the day the youth all gathered in the gym for some group activities and left the conference armed with knowledge and confidence that will help them throughout their high school careers. www.woodbuffalorcmp.ca 3
HUNGER FOR THE GAMES No Mockingjays seen at this event, only mascot s Monty the Safety Bear, Bylaw Bob, and Mistiko along with the cheers of many supporters. On November, 24th, Wood Buffalo RCMP Community Policing members along with Municipal Law Enforcement officers were at MacDonald Island Park and Shell Place to join the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo Bid Committee in welcoming members from Alberta Sport Connection. The RMWB is hoping to secure the winning bid to host the 2017 Alberta 55+ Summer Games and the 2018 Alberta Winter Games. The Alberta Sport Connection selection committee was in town to view potential facilities for hosting such games and were given VIP treatment throughout their visit. No word on when a decision will be made as the bid selection committee makes four more visits to other communities before making their final decision. WINTER PET SAFETY As winter is quickly approaching, we want to ensure our pets are kept safe and it is important to remember that prolonged exposure to cold can be harmful to animals. Even though pets have fur covering their bodies, it may not be enough protection for extended periods of being outdoors. Pets need to have access to adequate shelter, food and fresh water at all times. Please don t leave pets in vehicles for long periods of time; if the weather is too cold it can be dangerous or if you leave the engine on, your pets can be exposed to carbon monoxide. It is also important to remember that pets should not ride in an open truck bed in the winter; the low temperatures combined with the wind will affect your pet s body temperature which can lead to health problems. Remember, if you are taking your pet off your property, please ensure they are on a secure leash and ensure your dog is wearing their pet license on their collar. We don t want our pets to get lost in the cold weather. 4 www.woodbuffalorcmp.ca
GINGERBREAD JAILHOUSE Wood Buffalo Community Policing members had a chance to showcase some of their artistic talents on November 27th during the Christmas Show and Market. The Wood Buffalo Food Bank and Fort McMurray Tourism partnered to bring the event to Macdonald Island Park and held a Gingerbread House contest. The Community Policing Unit entered the contest and promoted this month s traffic safety initiative which is Impaired Driving Awareness. The gingerbread jail included some gingerbread officers as well as gingerbread jailbirds, reminding the community that if you drink and drive you could end up behind bars. Members of the public had a chance to view the houses over the three day event at MacDonald Island Park and bid to win one of the entries. In total $400.00 was raised with all proceeds from the contest going to the Wood Buffalo Food Bank. NATIONAL DAY OF REMEMBRANCE FOR ROAD CRASH VICTIMS November 18th, was a day set aside to remember those killed or seriously injured on Canadian roads, often in avoidable collisions, and those left to deal with the sudden and unexpected loss of loved ones. An event to mark the importance of this day was held at MacDonald Island Park and hosted by Safe Community Wood Buffalo. This year representatives from Victim Services along with Sgt. Al Boulianne of the Municipal Traffic Unit, and Cpl. Craig Beson and Sgt. Wanda Costello of the Integrated Traffic Unit attended the event to promote the important message of safe driving. Their message was that road safety is everyone s responsibility and encompasses many little acts including properly wearing a seatbelt, driving alert, adhering to posted speed limits and also driving to the road and weather conditions. During the evening, Safe Community Wood Buffalo honored a local man from the community who sustained a very serious injury in 2012 which resulted in the amputation of his leg just above the knee. There was a presentation of his story framed and on display remembering and respecting the hardships that his family has had to endure and will continue to struggle with. The evening also included a crashed car located at the entrance of the Suncor Leisure Center which provided visual awareness of what can happen in the event of a collision. Spectators had the opportunity to place a battery operated candle for their loved ones outside the car for further impact and memory. Safe Community Wood Buffalo and the Wood Buffalo RCMP would like to remind motorists that it is crucial that we are cognizant of road safety, not just on the National Day of Remembrance for Road Crash Victims, but every day. www.woodbuffalorcmp.ca
COMMUNITY POLICING VISITS FORT CHIPEWYAN On November 5th, Wood Buffalo RCMP Community Policing members, Cpl. George Cameron and Cst. Erika McGrattan, hitched a ride on the RCMP plane to Fort Chipewyan where they were met at the airport by Fort Chipewyan RCMP Detachment Commander, Sgt. Danny Knight and Cst. Donald Poirier. The visit included a stop at the Athabasca Delta Community School where members met with school officials. Several presentations on anti-bullying were given to various grade levels which generated positive discussion on how to recognize bullying and how to prevent and end it. Afterwards a general patrol was made in the community before heading back to the airport. Wood Buffalo RCMP Community Policing Unit would like to thank everyone in Fort Chipewyan for the warm welcome and especially to Cst. Porier who assisted in the presentations. Cst. Porier s everyday involvement and dedication to Community Policing in Fort Chipewyan is recognized by not only his colleagues but by the residents of the community. SOD TURNING AT LEGION On November 13th, Wood Buffalo RCMP Community Policing members and Municipal Law Enforcement Officers were in attendance at the Royal Canadian Legion Fort McMurray Branch #165 to witness the official sod turning ceremony to mark the beginning of the new memorial garden and cenotaph project. With shovels in hand Mayor Melissa Blake along with veterans Bruce Laxton and Jack Avery completed the first task in making the project a reality. Wood Buffalo RCMP and Municipal Law Enforcement members continue to be huge supporters of the Legion in Fort McMurray and were honoured to be present for this ceremony and show support for this fantastic project. A CAREER NOWHERE NEAR ORDINARY On November 9th, Constables Erika McGrattan and Annie- Claude Napoleon of the Wood Buffalo Community Policing Unit participated in the Centralized Recruiting Event through Educational Liaison Association of Alberta. Along with a variety of other organizations, Military, colleges and universities, RCMP members set up a booth and offered information pamphlets and giveaways to interested attendees. 6 The event allowed students and the general public the opportunity to visit with the knowledgeable representatives and ask questions about the different establishments and what they have to offer. Many people visited the RCMP booth inquiring about the requirements and training of a police officer. In the end everyone left with an abundance of information on possible career opportunities, including the possibility of A Career Nowhere Near Ordinary! www.woodbuffalorcmp.ca