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COMMUNITY POLICING
MAY 2013, Volume #4 Issue #5
Animal Abuse Awareness Walk
May 2013,
Volume #4 Issue #5
The Royal Canadian
Mounted Police
Wood Buffalo Detachment
Fort McMurray, AB
On April 21st, Cst. Courtney Dawe attended the second annual ‘Walk to
Stop Animal Abuse’ hosted by the Fort McMurray SPCA.
The purpose of the event is to raise awareness against animal abuse and to
remind people that this is a serious issue that should be reported to the local
authorities.
The event started off with speeches by Mayor Melissa Blake and Cst. Dawe.
In her speech, Cst. Dawe touched on the fact that even though it may seem
daunting at first, change is possible, and that the change starts individually. Cst.
Dawe encouraged the participants to help create awareness that animal abuse
does happen, and to report animal abuse if they witness or suspect neglect.
After the speeches, the participants leashed up their pets and took to the
trails to help support this worthwhile cause.
Royal Canadian
Mounted Police
In This Issue
Centennial Crest Vehicle Decals
Unveiled .....................................
Name the Police Building
Contest........................................
The PARTY’s Over!.......................
Victim Services Unit Thanks
Kinsmen.......................................
Young Drivers..............................
RCMP Shoot Hoops at Dr. Clark...
Baker to Vegas Law Enforcement
Challenge Cup Relay...................
Spring Trade Show Returns
to Mac Island...............................
Investing in Wood Buffalo’s
Youth at Risk................................
Bicycle Safety..............................
Working Together for
Safe Roads...................................
Dinner is Served..........................
Mountie Does the Jive................
RCMP Attend Your Event............
Are you Prepared?.......................
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Centennial Crest Vehicle Decals Unveiled
Throughout the month of April, members of the
Community Policing Unit attended the schools of all
Centennial Crest Contest participants and presented
appreciation certificates, t-shirts and Centennial pins
to all 215 entrants.
A big thank you goes out to all of those who entered,
putting time and effort into their entry, and for making
this initiative such a success.
April also marked the unveiling of the centennial crest
vehicle decals. The unveiling took place on April 25th,
at Holy Trinity Catholic High School where three police
vehicles each had one of their centennial crests revealed
by different representatives of the community.
Eden Bouzane, crest competition winner, Holy Trinity
Vice-Principal Sheldon Germain, and Wood Buffalo
RCMP Officer in Charge, Superintendent Bob Couture
all took to the spotlight to show-off the new decals.
In addition to the three vehicles from the decal
unveiling ceremony, every fully marked Wood Buffalo
RCMP vehicle will be sporting two original Centennial
decals as part of the year-long celebrations.
Name the Police Building Contest
The month of May marks the beginning of the most recent challenge extended to the youth of Wood Buffalo.
From May 1st to 31st, local youth are encouraged to take part in the name-the-police-building contest.
The Wood Buffalo RCMP South Policing Facility is slated to be opened and operational later this year and will be
located in the Gregoire area of Fort McMurray.
An official dedication, to take place this fall, would not be complete without a proper name for the building.
Given this year’s Centennial celebrations it would only be fitting to have a name with a historical meaning and
significance. The RCMP are challenging our youth to come up with a worthy designation and provide a rationale
for their selection. Some basic criteria for the entries to be judged on include the following: the name should be
historically based involving the RCMP (or predecessors) with a local connection to the Fort McMurray/Wood Buffalo
area, and may incorporate a police person or event.
For further contest details contact the Community Policing Unit via email [email protected]
or by telephone 780-788-4245. To pick-up an entry form, simply attend the Timberlea Detachment, any school
administration office, or visit the Wood Buffalo Community Policing Facebook page. All entries must be submitted
by the deadline of May 31, 2013.
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The PARTY’s Over!
Have you ever made a really bad
decision? That is a question that
can weigh heavily on anyone, but
especially for someone who has
had one too many alcoholic drinks
and then gets behind the wheel.
The PARTY (Prevent Alcohol
and Risk-Related Trauma in Youth)
program looks at the real-life
aftermath that a succession of a
few bad decisions can have not
only on an impaired driver, but also
the unsuspecting victims left in the
wake of a horrific motor vehicle
collision.
PARTY, a one-day injury
awareness and prevention program
geared typically to grade nine
students, features reality-based
learning whereby students will learn
that every action has consequences.
The program highlights that choices
young people make can have
adverse effects on their lives and
those of others. The overall goal
is to provide young people with
information about trauma that will
enable them to recognize potential
injury-producing situations, make
prevention-oriented choices, and
adopt behaviors that minimize
unnecessary risk.
Each day starts with a mock
vehicle collision scene that is serious
in nature and usually involves at
least one fatality. Students are
permitted to get up-close and see
for themselves what poor decision
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making can result in. They also
have a front-row seat for when
emergency services personnel
arrive and have to sort through
the wreckage in order to save lives
and often proceed with criminal
investigations. Cst. Christina Wilkins
and Cst. Erika McGrattan from
the Community Policing Unit were
on hand to partake in the mock
collision scene, and also provide
a very sobering look at what the
suspected impaired driver now
faces.
After the mock collision, the
students listened to Victim Services
Advocate, Kimberly Timmons and
Cst. Wilkins tell them about the
process of notifying the next of kin
and explain the anguish that loved
ones are put through following a
serious collision. Students also had
the chance to hear from a serious
collision survivor who recounted her
story and how it drastically changed
her life.
During the afternoon sessions
students were taken to a mock
emergency room scenario before
taking a tour of the morgue.
A mental wellness session was
provided to participants to help
them cope with the reality of
the trauma that they have been
exposed to throughout the day.
Students also got the opportunity
to participate in a few handson activities such as fatal vision
goggles, and concussion goggles,
among others. They were able to
experience first-hand the effects of
impairment, distraction, as well as
what it may be like in the after math
of life-altering injuries.
This year The PARTY Program
Wood Buffalo is well underway, with
session having been delivered in
the rural areas of Fort Chipewyan
and Fort McKay as well as in Fort
McMurray. When everything has
come to a close at the end of
May, the program will have been
provided to over 700 students.
The great success of this program
can be attributed to the many
volunteers, corporate support, and
partner agencies. Be informed,
make wise choices!!
Victim Services Unit Thanks Kinsmen
The Fort McMurray Victim Services
Unit would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to the Kinsmen
Club of Fort McMurray for their
generous donation that went
a long way to sprucing-up the
Family room at the courthouse.
Victim Services workers
accompany their clients (often
victims of crime) through the
criminal justice system which
can be a daunting and traumatic
experience. Thanks to the
generosity of the Kinsmen these
individuals have a wonderfully
refurbished Family room to allow
them to seek solace and comfort
from often trying events.
Young Drivers the Focus in May
During the month of May, the
Wood Buffalo RCMP, along with
their partners will take part in
initiatives to mark Young Driver
Awareness Month.
“This month our goal is to
educate and enforce, safe and
respectful driving habits of young
drivers in our community,” says
Wood Buffalo RCMP Traffic Services
Commander Sgt. Al Boulianne.
“Experience is a key element
to reacting swiftly and safely to
emergency situations or inclement
weather, and this is something
you can’t rush. So we encourage
novice drivers to be extra cautious
and not allow themselves to be
overwhelmed or distracted by the
excitement that often comes with
the freedom of being able to drive
a vehicle,” reminds Sgt. Boulianne.
Motor vehicle collisions are the
number one killer of young people
in Alberta. Crash rates for young
drivers are highest when there are
teen passengers in the vehicle
and when driving at night. One
in five new drivers is involved in a
collision during their first year of
driving. Studies have shown that
age, inexperience, distraction and
peer pressure are significant factors
in vehicle-related injuries and death
during the teen years.
The police will do their part, but
like all traffic-related matters, we
share the road and the responsibility
to keep everyone safe. Parents play
a vital role in teaching their teens to
drive, and an effective way of doing
this is to lead by example, and
demonstrate safe and courteous
driving habits. Parents can also
enroll their teen in driver education,
and most importantly, support and
be present for practice driving.
The RCMP would like to remind
all drivers, young and young-atheart, novice to experienced, that
driving is a privilege that should
not be taken for granted. “Safe
driving begins with each individual
motorist and means refraining from
aggressive and distracting driving
behaviors. We all need to work
together to share the road safely,”
says Sgt. Boulianne.
RCMP Shoot Hoops at Dr. Clark
On April 12th, the Wood Buffalo RCMP rounded up a team to participate in a few basketball games against
the staff and students of Dr. Clark School.
The RCMP team received a warm welcome from the students and staff who were gathered in the gym eagerly
anticipating their arrival. Monty the Safety Bear also received a warm welcome even though he was there to cheer
on his fellow RCMP members and not the staff and students of Dr. Clark. The games were very entertaining and
showcased the athletic skills and abilities of some of Wood Buffalo’s finest. The games were a huge success and the
RCMP are looking forward to being invited to participate in other upcoming sporting events.
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Baker to Vegas Law Enforcement Challenge Cup Relay
The Baker to Vegas Law Enforcement Challenge Cup
Relay has been an annual event since 1985, and is
far more than a relay, it has become known as “the
largest police foot pursuit in the world”.
This year the Wood Buffalo RCMP had several
members participating in two different teams of the
race. The challenge, in which only sworn-in or retired
police/peace officers can participate, is the World’s
largest law enforcement event of its kind. The race
involves thousands of police officers in approximately
270 teams and kicked off at 9:00 AM on Saturday, April
13th, in Baker, California and finished at 7:00 AM, on
Sunday, April 14, in Las Vegas, Nevada.
The race is 120 miles long (193 km) and the route
takes runners through Death Valley, up a mountain and
then down into the bright light of Las Vegas. Each team
consists of 20 runners (with a few spares) and 5 support
personnel/drivers. The planning and training for this
year’s race was a long and grueling process, but most
definitely worth all the effort given that both our RCMP
teams (made up of off-duty police officers from all over
Canada) beat personal bests.
The Baker to Vegas Law Enforcement Relay is truly
an International event with teams coming from all over
the world to participate. Congratulations to all the
participants, especially to our local contingent from
Wood Buffalo: S/Sgt. Rob Diduch, Sgt. Jennifer Ebert,
Sgt. Steve Gruenberg, Sgt. Chuck MacDonald (retired),
Cpl. Liz MacDonald, Cst. J.P. Tremblay, Cst. Tyson Duff,
Cst. Kelly Bates, and Cst. Nick Holgate.
Spring Trade Show Returns to Mac Island
The Wood Buffalo RCMP’s Community Policing Unit, along with members from
the Traffic Services Section and General Duty Investigations and representatives
from Fort McMurray Victim Services took part in this year’s Spring Trade Show at
MacDonald Island Park.
Attending the Trade Show each year gives the RCMP a great opportunity to
strengthen police-community relations and allows members to answer various
questions posed to them by community residents. The members that attended this
year’s trade show provided information on the various upcoming Centennial celebrations and the Victim Services
Regimental Ball; members also provided information on safety-related topics and as always, Recruiting information.
All members and Victim Services enjoyed the time spent at the Trade Show and look forward to spending time
with the public again at future Trade Shows.
Investing in Wood Buffalo’s Youth at Risk
On April 24th, the Wood Buffalo RCMP presented a one-thousand
dollar cheque to the Stepping Stones Mobile Outreach program
on behalf of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Foundation.
The Mobile Outreach program is a part of the Woods Homes
Society that provides shelter and resources to at-risk youth in our
community.
The RCMP Foundation was created in 1994 to support community
initiatives in which local RCMP members are involved. The members
volunteer their time and energy to making a difference in the
community and the lives of Canada’s youth at risk. Funds are raised
by the RCMP Foundation’s management of the RCMP licensing
program and the operation of retail and online stores. The funds raised are used to support drug awareness, child
safety, literacy, bullying, self-help and victim services, internet safety, sports teams and events, all for the benefit of
Canada’s future: our youth.
The Wood Buffalo Detachment is proud to partner with the RCMP Foundation and with organizations such as
Woods Homes and their programs including the Mobile Outreach. By working together we can make a difference
in a young person’s life, the benefits of which are numerous and long-lasting.
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Bicycle Safety
The seasons are changing and
with the ever improving road
conditions we’re seeing more
and more bicycles coming out of
storage.
These pedal-powered two
wheelers are a fun and healthy
way to get around, however it is
important to remember that they
are not toys, but rather vehicles and
need to be treated as such. The
following are some tips for staying
safe while enjoying the freedom a
bicycle can provide.
Ride Safe, Ride Smart: Before
using your bicycle, make sure it is
ready to ride. You should always
inspect your bike to make sure
all parts are secure and working
properly. Remember to:
•Wear a properly fitted and
approved bicycle helmet. In the
province of Alberta it is the law
for anyone under the age of 18 to
wear a helmet while riding a
bicycle. Wearing a bicycle helmet
should be a no-brainer at any
age. Make sure to be familiar with
local bylaws as there are a variety
of stipulations regarding
helmet use within the different
communities, even into
adulthood.
•Adjust Your Bicycle to Fit. Ensure
you ride a bicycle that has a
frame that is suited to your height,
and that the seat and handle bars
are properly adjusted. An ill-fitted
bicycle can perpetuate injury and
does not allow the rider to have
adequate control over the vehicle.
•Check Your Equipment. Before
riding, inflate tires properly and
check that your brakes work.
Ensure that you have appropriate
reflectors (white in the front, and
red in rear) as well as a bell or
horn as these are required by law
in Alberta.
•See and Be Seen. Whether
daytime, dawn, dusk, foul
weather, or at night, you need
to be seen by others. Wear bright
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colors and reflective stripes in
strategic areas on your person to
ensure good visibility. If you ride
at night, or during other times of
reduced visibility you are required
by law to have functioning lights
(white in front, red in back) on
your bicycle. Remember, just
because you can see a driver
doesn’t mean the driver can see
you. Always be vigilant and alert.
•Control Your Bicycle. Similar to
operating a motor vehicle do
not drive distracted and keep
your hands on the handlebars. If
you need to carry books or other
items, secure them properly in a
bicycle carrier or backpack. Never
take an additional passenger on a
single rider bicycle!
•Be Predictable. Ride in a straight
line, not in and out of cars, or
other potential obstacles. Signal
your moves and intentions to
others users of the roadway.
•Watch for and Avoid Road
Hazards. Be on the lookout for
hazards such as potholes, broken
glass, gravel, puddles, leaves, and
wild or domesticated animals.
Many bicycle-related collisions
resulting in injury or death are
associated with the bicyclist’s
behavior, including such things as
not wearing a bicycle helmet, riding
into a street without stopping,
turning left or swerving into traffic
that is coming from behind, running
a stop sign, and riding the wrong
way in traffic. To maximize your
safety, ALWAYS wear a helmet,
and follow the rules of the road.
Sharing the road safely is everyone’s
responsibility.
Working Together for Safe Roads
On April 27th, the volunteers
of the ‘please twin highway
63’ committee organized a
Candlelight Vigil at the Jubilee
Building, in honor of the victims,
survivors, and first responders of
Highway 63 and 881.
The Vigil allowed representatives
from the RCMP, Victim Services and
RMWB Emergency Services the
opportunity to say a few words.
Cpl. Marc Michon, of the Traffic
Services Unit, attended on behalf
of the Wood Buffalo RCMP. Cpl.
Michon emphasized the importance
of staying safe on our
highways. “Traffic safety within our
communities, especially on our
highways is of utmost importance
and a priority for the RCMP, but we
all need to share the responsibility
to share the road safely” stated
Cpl. Michon.
The event also included a
personal message balloon release
and a candlelight human 63
formation at sunset.
Dinner is Served!
On March 6th, the Wood Buffalo
RCMP hosted a Traditional Mess
Dinner for members of the
detachment.
. The concept of the Mess
Dinner is deeply rooted in RCMP
history and tradition, and allows
for mess members, in this case
Non-Commissioned Officers and
Commissioned Officers of the
Wood Buffalo Detachment, to come
together on a formal but friendly
occasion. These events often see
the attendance of high-ranking
officials within the organization
attending as representing
dignitaries. For this particular
dinner, our District Commander for
Eastern Alberta District (EAD), Chief
Superintendent Randy McGinnis
was in attendance, as well as S/Sgt.
Greg Gerbrandt (EAD), Sgt. Brian
Scott (Athabasca Detachment) and
our two area RCMP Chaplains were
present to partake in the festivities.
Naturally traditions of paramilitary organizations such as the
Royal Canadian Mounted Police, are
very regimented and stipulate that
a number of protocols be adhered
to. A fine example
of such protocols
relate to dress and
deportment. At an
RCMP Mess Dinner,
attending members
are to follow a certain
behavior etiquette that
involves not discussing
MOUNTIE Does the Jive!
On April 13th, Cst. Courtney Dawe wowed the crowd with
professional dance partner, Andre Lusan, as they danced the Jive.
Cst. Dawe spent the past few months training with her partner to
participate in the second annual Dancing with the Stars Wood Buffalo
competition hosted by the Fort McMurray SPCA. The event was held to
raise money for the local SPCA. Approximately 400 people attended the
event and a total of $81,000.00 was raised as a result of ticket sales and
votes. All proceed from this event will go towards the continuing efforts of
our local SPCA to ensure the care of animals in our community. Thanks for
your support and participation for this worthy cause Cst. Dawe!
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political or controversial issues, not
proposing an impromptu toast,
not leaving the table during dinner
without expressed permission,
among others. Members are also
required to wear their walking
out order, which in laymen’s
terms is equivalent to ‘black tie’.
Other traditions observed at such
functions include the passing of
the port, predetermined toasts,
speeches and often has guest
dinning on a traditional meal of
bison meat.
As we commemorate our history
of 100 years of policing in our
communities, the Mess Dinner
was fitting to be held during the
Centennial year, and will no doubt
continue in tradition of the Wood
Buffalo Detachment.
RCMP Ready
to Attend
Your Event!
Would you like to have the RCMP
provide a presentation to a class,
group, or organization?
Do you want an RCMP member to
attend your event in their traditional
Red Serge? Would you like our
mascot Monty the Safety Bear to
brighten your event?
All requests for RCMP members
or Monty the Safety Bear can be
made by emailing fort_mcmurray_
[email protected] by calling
780.788.4245 or by request on
our Facebook page ‘Wood Buffalo
Community Policing’. Be sure to
leave a name and a phone number
that you can be reached at during
normal business hours.
Please contact us at least two or
three weeks in advance with your
request.
Are you Prepared?
The week of May 5-11, 2013, marks Emergency
Preparedness Week, and is a perfect time to take
stalk of your surroundings and to make sure that you
are ready in the event of an emergency. Most often
these are unpredictable, but knowing what to do in
an emergency situation and to be prepared is your
family’s best protection.
An emergency situation can encompass many
spectrums but overall they are usually unexpected, and
severe. Some scenarios to consider can include natural
disasters such as forest fires, severe weather and storms,
hazardous waste materials spills, power outages, largescale transportation issues, acts of terrorism, disease
outbreaks, among others.
The Wood Buffalo RCMP work hand-in-hand with
other safety-minded partners to ensure the safety of
the communities that we serve but these efforts cannot
be one-sided; everyone has to do their part. Basic
emergency preparedness starts with each individual.
Emergencies can happen anytime, anywhere.
Experience has shown that individual preparedness
goes a long way towards being able to cope and react
appropriately – both during and after a major disaster.
Below are 4 simple steps to increase your personal and
family preparedness:
Step 1 – Be Informed
•Know the hazards that may threaten your
community so that you may be better prepared
to plan.
•Familiarize yourself with local emergency plans and
know the lay of the land.
o Family items (plan for weather/season; extra clothes, shovel, umbrella, etc.)
oSpecial needs items (for households with infants, elderly, disabled, and pets.)
o First Aid kit (one for the household and each vehicle)
oSanitation Supplies (toilet paper, antibacterial wipes, etc.)
o Car emergency kit.
Step 2 – Prepare Your Own Personal Plan
•Complete your home emergency plan considering
the following:
o Family emergency communications and
contacts.
oSafe meeting places and escape routes.
oEmergency arrangements for children, special needs and pets.
oEmergency planning considerations for the residence.
o Planning with neighbors and the community.
Step 4 – Maintain and Know How to Put your Plan
into Action
•A plan only works if it is kept current and practiced.
Step 3 – Assemble Your Family Emergency Kit
•This kit should consist of basic supplies that can sustain your family over a period of 72 hours and should include:
o Non-perishable food and water.
o Basic Equipment (candles, matches, batteries, etc.)
For more information residents can visit any number
of government support websites including but not
limited to:
•Government of Canada http://www.getprepared.
gc.ca/index-eng.aspx
•Alberta Emergency Management Agency http://
www.aema.alberta.ca/
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