Calgary Police Commission Community Dinner and Awards

 

The Calgary Police Commission hosted its annual Community Dinner last night, June 4, at the Glenmore Inn. The sixth annual Calgary Police Commission Community Policing Awards were presented at the dinner.

 

The Calgary Police Commission Community Policing Awards are designed to give recognition to citizens for their contributions to community policing and to a safe city. “This year we honour seven individuals and groups who have made a significant contribution to our City through their dedication and hard work,” said Mike Shaikh, Calgary Police Commission Chair. “These awards honour individuals and groups that contribute to community policing in an extraordinary way. We hope their efforts inspire others to become involved in their communities.”

 

Individual award winner: Volunteer: Calvin Campbell

 

Calvin is the civilian co-chair of the Calgary Police Service Chief’s Advisory Board for the Sexuality and Gender Diversity portfolio and also sits on the Chief’s Communities Advisory Board. He works as an educator to the Police Service, to ensure its members can police with knowledge and not prejudice, and also as an educator to the communities so they understand why the police do what they do, as well as the limitations the Police Service may have when policing the City of Calgary. He is passionate about the safety and wellbeing of LGBT community members in Calgary and educating Police Service members regarding LGBT issues.

 

Individual award winner: Compensated: Janet Pieschel

 

For 22 years, Janet was the Executive Director of YouthLink Calgary Police Interpretive Centre. YouthLink engages and empowers Calgary’s youth to make confident choices. Janet is now the Executive Director of the Calgary Police Foundation (CPF) whose mandate is to partner with the CPS to fund community-based programs for children, youth and families to help ensure a safer Calgary. 

Youth award winner: Jasjeet Singh Rehill

 

Jasjeet is currently the Calgary Police Cadet Corps Regimental Sergeant Major.

He provides a strong leadership role within the Cadet Corps and is the perfect role model for the Cadets in the program. He exemplifies not only what a Cadet should be but also what a Cadet RSM should be. He is currently helping to form a strong disciplined group of young men and women by teaching them drill, the importance of being part of large group and the impact we can make on communities by the way we portray ourselves and act in public as a Cadet Corps.

 

Group award winner: Community: CPS Volunteer Resource Unit Special Projects Team  

 

The Calgary Police Service’s Special Projects Team presently consists of 76 Volunteers.  These individuals, along with nearly 900 others, started with the CPS as security volunteers for the 1988 Winter Olympics.  After the games, this group was invited to continue volunteering with CPS and the 270 who did became the Special Projects Team.  Over the past 25 years, these volunteers have contributed close to 30,000 hours, assisting the CPS with over 800 projects.  Their volunteer duties, to name but a few, include playing the part of robbery victims / witnesses to assist recruits in honing their investigative skills; participating in crowd control exercises to allow members of the Public Safety Unit to create various scenarios in a safe, controlled environment, and providing support at a variety of events.

 

Group award winner: NAV CANADA - Air Traffic Control Tower and Terminal.

 

NAV CANADA is the country's civil air navigation services provider and provides air traffic control, flight information, weather briefings, aeronautical information services, airport advisory services and electronic aids to navigation.

 

When the CPS Air Support Unit is called out, there is an intricate process to allow it to deploy, with the assistance and direction of Air Traffic Control in both the Tower and the Terminal. These two groups allow the Air Support Unit movement in the air space over Calgary. NAV CANADA has absolutely no legal obligation to assist or give the Air Support Unit any priority air traffic at any time, however, these controllers know that the Unit is there to save lives and keep everyone safe so they make the Unit a priority. 

 

CPS Sworn Member award winner: Constable Geoff Wilson

 

ToyMountain is Calgary’s largest toy drive that collects and distributes new, unwrapped toys to less fortunate families during the holiday season. Toy donation displays are set up at sponsor locations including shopping malls, stores and CPS district offices.

 

The Calgary Police Service was asked by ENCANA, three years ago when it became the major sponsor, to partner in the Toy Mountain Campaign. ENCANA asked police to help out in their efforts to make positive changes in the lives of kids during the Christmas season. Constable Wilson met with the Toy Mountain Campaign committee to take on this new challenge. He obtained permission from the Chief’s Office to have the District Offices, as well as some specialty units, as key toy drop locations. He also coordinated the attendance of several Calgary Police Service specialty units at the Campaign’s public kickoff at HeritagePark. Close to 5000 toys were raised just from these kickoffs. With the help of CPS, in the last three years, in excess of 100 000 toys and $19 000.00 in gift cards for kids were raised.

 

CPS Unit/Team award winner: Traffic Education Unit

 

The Traffic Education Unit or TEU is comprised of 1 Sergeant and 8 Constables. The unit's mandate is to educate the public on traffic safety issues. This includes school children, businesses and even other police officers. Although much of their work can be described as routine, the entire unit, under the guidance of Sergeant Barbario, has consistently looked for ways to improve the manner in which their message is delivered.

 

Each officer is responsible for between 25 to 28 schools. Some of the programs and areas TEU has either developed, or works with other community partners on include:

 

AMASchool Patroller Program

PARTY program

Child Seat Safety Program

Impaired Driving Course

Public Service Announcements

License Preparation for Grade 9 students

Car and Motorcycle Shows

Seniors safe driving and yearly physical lectures

UNICEF and safe practices for Halloween

Corporate safe driving seminars

University of Calgary "Bermuda Shorts Day" Check-stop Presence

 

 

The evening’s events are sponsored by EnCana Corporation.

 

The Calgary Police Commission Community Dinner is the annual event where community associations and cultural groups have an opportunity to sit down with members of the Calgary Police Commission and the Calgary Police Service to learn more about community policing in our city. The event allows the Calgary Police Commission to recognize individuals and groups in our City who contribute positively to community policing through the Calgary Police Commission Community Policing Awards.

 

The Calgary Police Commission provides civilian oversight to the Calgary Police Service. Under the Police Act the Calgary Police Commission establishes policies to provide for efficient and effective policing; in consultation with the chief of police, allocates funds provided by City Council; and monitors the complaint process. 

 

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Photo Credits:

 

Photos by Tim Bellaart

 

Photo 1: Calvin Campbell

 

Photo 2: Janet Pieschel

 

Photo 3: Jasjeet Singh Rehill

 

Photo 4: CPS Volunteer Resource Unit Special Projects Team Representatives: (in alphabetical order) Pieter Bessem; Vi Fischer; Glenn Pennett; and Bill Weeks

 

 

Photo 5: NAV CANADA Representatives: (in alphabetical order) Susan Andrew, Shift Manager; Chris Broadbent, Terminal Supervisor; Brent Congram, Tower Unit Operations Specialist; and Wayne Nyman, Tower Manager

 

Photo 6: Constable Geoff Wilson

 

Photo 7: CPS Traffic Education Unit Representatives: (in alphabetical order) Sergeant Dominic Barbario; Constable Kelly Chisholm; Constable Bruce Falk; and Constable Randy MacDonald