Home page

Text size

E-mail this page

IQALUIT
The RCMP will have some fresh but familiar faces patrolling the streets of Nunavut communities. Sixteen young people are donning their blues after completing one week of training for the RCMP's Nunavut Police Experience Program, a chance for students to work for the police for the summer.

Benny Sanguya, 28, of Clyde River takes down training partner Kelvin Taipana, 17, of Kugluktuk during training for the RCMP's Nunavut Police Experience Program July 3. - Casey Lessard/NNSL photo

"I want to be a police officer, and I think this will be a good experience to see what it's like to be a police officer before I actually go into policing," said trainee Shelly Nichol, 16, of Rankin Inlet. She's looking forward to "working with my community, helping my community become a better place to live in, becoming involved."

To take part, students must be at least 16 years old, and be returning to school in the fall. They get paid for their work as temporary civilian members, and work for eight weeks learning what police work is about.

"These students are not allowed to be put in any emergency or life-threatening situations," said program leader and V Division recruiter Cpl. Beryl Lewis. "If there is any dangerous situation, they'll be left behind because they don't have the full training. But in the event they are walking around with us, and someone does see they're a police officer, they are given a bullet-proof vest as a precaution."

They also get handcuffs, a hat and patches on their RCMP uniforms to identify them as students, she said. To take part, students have to pass a security clearance, which includes a criminal records check, and a drug test. They are trained in statement-taking, note-taking, defensive tactics, and firearms storage and safety, which they will teach in their home communities.

All of this year's cohort is Inuit, Lewis said, which is a real bonus for the force.

"We're trying to make the police force more representative of the people we police," she said. "We are targeting students of Inuit descent, but we're also looking for people who are just interested in the RCMP as well. It's open to anyone."

Tylie Arnatsiaq, 16, of Iglulik sees the benefits of recruiting Inuit officers.

"I can speak the language, I can help them translate from an elder, and I can be very useful," Arnatsiaq said. "After I left the Youth Academy, I wanted to join the RCMP as a member for the summer. I'm into the law, and I want to see how it looks, feels, and I want to see the experience. That's the career I want to do, and something to do for the summer other than sitting down and being lazy."

The oldest student in the program, at 28 years, Benny Sanguya of Clyde River said being from the community will also be the hardest part of the job.

"Dealing with people who I know in my community," will be difficult, Sanguya said. "You see them every day, you walk by them, and you kind of know what they do. I'm guessing it will be different."

Arnatsiaq expects the experience will open his eyes, saying he expects to see "a lot of things. Unexpected things. Things I don't know from my town."

This is one of the reasons the program exists.

"We're also doing it for students to get a little knowledge about what police do in their home communities," Lewis said. "As the recruiting officer, obviously I'm eying up students to see which ones could be potentially regular members in the future. They're learning about the law and when they can be arrested."

The experience is also intended to boost the self-worth of the participants, and of those around them.

"I'm going to be a role model for the summer," Arnatsiaq said, "and I'm hoping to make a really big difference."

Shelly Nichol says there is one aspect that will set a good example, but will be the hardest part of the job – "Waking up early."

We welcome your opinions. Click here to e-mail a letter to the editor.