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Learning the law of the North
Students from Calgary to learn how justice issues are handled in Rankin

Darrell Greer
Northern News Services
Wednesday, March 11, 2015

RANKIN INLET
Funding has been approved for five students from Mount Royal University to see how justice is delivered in Rankin Inlet this coming June.

NNSL photo/graphic

Mount Royal University criminal justice students Ben Reid, from left, Kennedy Elmy, Scharie Tavcer (associate professor), Dylan Dinh and Nicholas Eckert will participate in a field school studying justice issues in Rankin Inlet this coming June. - photo courtesy of Mount Royal University

Associate professor Scharie Tavcer said the students are majoring in criminal justice and will be in Rankin from June 7 to 20.

She said the field school will see the students job shadow justice-based agencies, learning about how criminal matters are handled in a remote community.

"We'll be spending time with lawyers at legal aid, as well as professionals from probation, community justice, the Pulaarvik Kablu Friendship Centre, the RCMP and the healing facility," said Tavcer.

"It will give them a sense of what day-to-day work is like up here," said Tavcer.

"And, of course, how that differs from a big southern city like Calgary with more than a million people.

"Even though we're all under Canada and the same Criminal Code, procedures, and so forth, sometimes things happen differently, like circuit court, for example.

"We have court every single day in Calgary, and circuit court takes place at the hotel maybe once a week or once a month in Rankin."

The field school will give students a first-hand look at how things are different in the North, as well as how justice professionals deal with the challenges of a remote environment.

Tavcer said the students will also take part in community service while in Rankin.

She said it's important for the students to give something back to the community while in Rankin.

"We'll be spending time with some of the kids in sports, looking at a variety of self-care and self-esteem approaches, and looking at both what the kids can teach us, and how we can support them.

"We'll be volunteering at the Deacon's Cupboard (food bank), the friendship centre and other agencies.

"We had eight students at first but these five were selected because we want the project to be small for our first running of it.

"With just me with the students, the smaller the better to manage the project and be able to support the students every day we're there."

Tavcer said, ideally, she'd love to offer the field school to students either every spring or every second spring.

She said as a course at the university, there would be an academic portion and students would have to pay tuition to enrol.

"We'd love to see it grow over the years, but this is the first offering and we'll see how it goes.

"The students are very excited, and they can't wait to visit, learn, and see a part of Canada that seems far away, but is really just a back door.

"All of them are very motivated and keen on participating."

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