Christine Kay
Northern News Services

Iqaluit (Oct 21/02) - Ed North has been with the RCMP for over 30 years. He has moved 18 times over this period, including most recently to Iqaluit.

North is the RCMP detachment's new staff sergeant. When he's not working with the community to lower crime in the capital he'll be working on his curling.

News/North: When did you join the RCMP?

Ed North: I joined the RCMP way back in 1972 in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador. My transfers have taken me to places in Nova Scotia, Northwest Territories, Newfoundland, and Nunavut.

N/N: Why were you interested in joining the RCMP?

EN: I joined up in February of 1972. My interest in becoming a member of the RCMP peaked when I met a person that was a member at the time. I asked him some questions about what life was like and he said it was very interesting, very challenging, very adventurous and an opportunity for me to travel throughout this great country of ours. Being a public servant I knew there was an opportunity to go out and help people. I knew there was always going to be ups and downs, and hopefully more ups than there were downs.

My career has certainly proven to be every bit as challenging and rewarding as I thought it was going to be.

N/N: Did you ever want to do anything other than join the RCMP?

EN: When I was in high school and my first year of university, I was thinking teacher. I didn't want to be confined to an office or in a classroom Monday to Friday for eight hours. I figured I needed something a little more outdoors. I enjoy the outdoors and being a Mountie has fit the bill.

N/N: When did you arrive in Iqaluit?

EN: In September of this year I came up to Iqaluit. I was here previously back in the early 1970s. It was then known as Frobisher Bay and I enjoyed my stay. This is the same building I was in back then. After that I went to Yellowknife. I decided to return home to Newfoundland, but it was always my aspiration that after my own family was gone to university, my wife and I would return to the North.

N/N: Have things changed much since you were last in Iqaluit?

EN: I was back here in 1979 or 1980. This is the first time since to be back here. Wow, what a change! I could not believe it. I noticed it has grown. It has all the amenities of any large town down south. There's plenty of work opportunities for everyone. The infrastructure of the town and the buildings that have gone up here. We even have paved roads. Everything seems to be so positive.

N/N: Will there be another transfer soon or a later, or do you plan on staying in Iqaluit?

EN: I guess it would depend on the needs of the organization and, hopefully, I'll be able to live up to my own expectations. In terms of duration of stay, it's difficult for me to put a length of time in months and years. This is my 18th transfer in 31 years.

N/N: What do you hope to accomplish as staff sergeant?

EN: There's a number of programs we are going to be following through with. There's the block parent program, the D.A.R.E program in the schools, drug abuse resistance programs and a co-op program with the high school.

Definitely some programs dealing with alcohol and substance abuse. I definitely want to see the officers of this office working with the youth of this community, whether it be coaching or something else. My main goal is working with this community to reduce criminal activity in whatever form it is and to enhance the quality of life for the citizens in our community. I'm here to administer the operational needs of the office and to meet the needs of the community.

If you work with the community, nine times out of 10 criminal activity is going to be reduced.

N/N: How are you going to get involved in the community?

EN: I will be involved with the curling club definitely. Curling and golfing. I went over to the golf course and had a look. I'll give it a try, definitely. I played hockey while I was a young person, but I'm getting a little older.

N/N: What do you enjoy about your job the most?

EN: There are many ups. When we find lost people and bring them back together with their family. It's always rewarding. It feels good.

N/N: What do you enjoy the least?

EN: The down sides. In the occupation I'm in we see many negatives. We see victims of crime, victims of sexual assault, victims of spousal assaults and victims of property offences. That is a downer. In my 30 years I've seen children who have been abused. It's a hurt. Responding to spousal assault, it's not a nice feeling. Seeing sudden deaths, suicides, murder investigations -- there's always a victim.

N/N: How do you fix the "downs" or the negatives?

EN: Although you put all your prevention programs in place, there's only so much that the police can do. The town has got to take an approach that suppression of criminal activity is a joint responsibility. It's not just the police. It's working with the community to prevent a crime.

N/N: How do you deal with some of the horrible things you see as a RCMP officer?

EN: You never lose sight of the fact that you're a human being first. You're occupation is a police officer but you're still dealing with a human -- it's a person. Whether he or she is a criminal, they're still a person and you have to treat them with respect. I've always been good since day one of separating my work life from my home life. Sporting activities have always been a great help for me. It gives me a chance to get my battery recharged.

N/N: What are the biggest problems in Nunavut's capital in terms of crime?

EN: I haven't been here long enough to really give you a fair answer on that. Criminal activity is a little high here. There can be improvements made to reduce the amount of crimes against persons and crimes against property. There's room for improvements -- there always is.

N/N: Does the detachment have enough people to make the improvements?

EN: I'll never close the door if they're going to offer me another police officer or two. We have a staff of 23 regular members and two detachment assistants which are public servants. That's just operational wise. We also have a telecommunications centre with about seven employees.

N/N: Does your family support you in your work?

EN: They're very supportive. I have a son and a daughter attending university. My wife is with me and right now. She is substitute teaching. She has substituted in all the schools so far. I've been married 23 years. The dangers are always there on the job. The biggest hurdle or impact in this occupation is the constant moving. When you get involved in a community you want to stay there but you move around. The moving is always the negative. I ask my children where's their home and they don't have a place to call home.

N/N: Is there anything else you'd like to add?

EN: Recruiting the young Inuit men and women is very important, and I emphasize men and women to join the RCMP. If anyone does have an interest in it by all means bring it forward and come in and have a discussion with us.