OPP visit Manitouwadge High School

by Karina Hunter

Grade 10 students in Career Studies at Manitouwadge High School (MHS) enjoyed a presentation last Tuesday from Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) Cadet Craig Colbourne, Community Services Officer, Constable Peter Bertin and Sergeant Gord Ewald. The officers introduced students to the various detachments of the OPP, North America’s largest deployed service, including the Tactics and Rescue Unit (TRU) whose area of responsibility includes some of the most serious threats to peace and order in Ontario, information on the last being most receptively received by the teens.

From wilderness, lakes and rivers to rural farmland and urban centres, policing a diverse province of more than 12 million people presents exciting challenges to the OPP; the visiting officers shared firsthand experiences of these challenges giving the students a look into what a career with the OPP could offer them.  Students queried them on the array of services provided by the 165 detachments, six regional headquarter facilities and OPP General Headquarters to both our province and more than 315 municipalities within it learning about what the officers do for their community. 

The school visits by Marathon/Manitouwadge OPP officers are an important part of the detachment’s reaching out to the youth of the two communities allowing the students to become more comfortable with police officers, and offering an informal method of interaction between the students and police.  Sergeant Gord Ewald explained that it is hoped the students will consider officers as role models. Many students use these visits as opportunities to speak with police as they develop a partnership with law enforcement helping to bridge the gap that often exists between the two groups. “We strive to foster positive relations with our community partners, and the youth are no exception to this proactive OPP wide policing initiative” added Ewald.  For more information regarding police visits to your youth organization or school, contact the Ontario Provincial Police Marathon/Manitouwadge Detachment or visit them online at www.opp.ca.

Submitted to The Echo, 12.07.09