Paul Bickford
Northern News Services

Fort Resolution (Apr 05/04) - In just over a year and a half, Sylvain Lemoyne has made a difference in Fort Resolution.

When the Mountie arrived in town, there were only four young people involved in minor hockey. Now -- thanks largely to his volunteer efforts -- there are at least 60, and the arena has been given a facelift.

RCMP Cpl. Sylvain Lemoyne has led a revival of minor hockey in Fort Resolution. - Paul Bickford/NNSL photo

That work was started by teenagers as a way to thank Cpl. Lemoyne for his efforts.

Lemoyne says he had hoped to make some difference. "That was my goal. If I could change one kid, I'd be happy."

As for why he has been so successful, he says: "I think I'm very approachable. I like to be involved and I like my work."

His efforts have not gone unnoticed. In January, the community gave the corporal a plaque in honour of his volunteer work.

When he arrived in Fort Resolution, Lemoyne was concerned about teenagers being out late at night and not attending school, and the level of violence.

"This year, there's been a big turn-around," he says, noting the arena has been full every night as both young people and their parents have gotten involved in hockey.

"Relations between the police and parents and the youth are very, very good," he adds.

Being involved in the community makes it easier to deal with people, he says, noting almost everyone calls him by his first name.

Lemoyne says the big challenge is to continue the community involvement into the warmer weather, noting he hopes to start a ball hockey league.

However, he won't have as much time to help out, because police are busier in the warmer months.

Lemoyne was born in the farming town of St-Michel, about 20 minutes from Montreal.

He didn't consider becoming a police officer when he was growing up. "I never really thought about it."

In fact, when he went to university he studied business.

However, the brother of a friend was in the RCMP, he recalls. "That's when I became interested."

Lemoyne, 37, joined the RCMP in 1992, after also considering the Montreal city police and the Quebec provincial force.

"I thought it was more of an adventure joining the RCMP," he explains, adding there would be more travel and more prestige.

Lemoyne transferred to Fort Res in July 2002 because of an opportunity to be promoted to corporal.

His wife, Donna Munro, is also a member of the RCMP. She has taken a three-year leave of absence to join him in Fort Resolution. They have a four-year-old daughter Kyla.

Some people in Fort Res are already wondering how Lemoyne's volunteer service will be replaced once his three-year posting ends in the summer of 2005.

He says he will try to recruit more volunteers from the community over the next year. "Hopefully, they will be ready to take over when I leave."

Lemoyne believes anyone can do what he has done. "You just have to be willing to do it."