Calgary Police Commission Community Dinner and Awards
Sent on behalf of The Calgary Police Commission
The Calgary Police Commission hosted its annual Community Dinner last night, May 8th, at the Glenmore Inn, at 2720 Glenmore Trail SE. The 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 five individuals and groups who have made a significant contribution to our City through their dedication and hard work,” said Rodney Fong, 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: Joyce Gardam
Joyce Gardam has been the President of the Crossroads Community Association Block Watch Program for the past 30 years. Although Joyce has a dedicated board of directors and volunteers supporting her, she continues to be the driving force to sustain the program in the heart of the NE and serves as a daily conduit between the Calgary Police Service and community residents. Joyce is responsible for the gathering, collating and dissemination of crime information for the community quarterly newsletter. Joyce has approved and assisted with upgrades to the Crossroads Block Watch telephone fan-out system which has had great success in terms of reaching out to residents to support crime awareness. Additionally, Joyce is currently the Director in charge of the Calgary Safety Council’s “Safety City”. She has held this position for the past 20 years. With Joyce being involved in every aspect of the community, this greatly assists the Calgary Police Service in terms of Community policing and sustaining a connection with residents.
Individual award winner: Compensated: Tie: Naomi Johnson and Gary Strother
Naomi Johnson, as the Chief Superintendent of Schools for the Calgary Board of Education, and Gary Strother, as the Chief Superintendent of Schools for the Calgary Catholic School District, played an integral role in the implementation and support of several collaborative programs involving the Calgary Police Service, and in some cases, additional partners such as Alberta Health Services, and the City of Calgary’s Community and Neighbourhood Services. These programs are: Start Smart Stay Safe, Multi-Agency School Support Team, and the School Resource Officer Program. Police presence in Calgary schools has always been focused on the School Resource Officer Program by providing a visible and positive image of law enforcement that inspires young people to make positive choices in their lives while also helping to protect the school environment. Over time and with progressive leadership, the Calgary Police Service intentionally grew in a direction that balanced enforcement with education and early intervention as preventative measures. This was and is only possible because of the commitment and investment from a number of crucial leaders, Naomi Johnson and Gary Strother being two of those key influential visionaries.
Group award winner: Community: CPS Victim Assistance Unit
The floods in June 2013 were especially devastating due to the level of intensity and how quickly the disaster struck. Understanding the reactions of those affected would include shock, anxiety and feelings of devastation, the Victim Assistance Unit immediately prepared to deploy volunteers into the communities to provide Psychological First Aid. Victim Assistance Unit volunteers went door to door in the hardest hit neighbourhoods to ensure the residents were given the tools and strategies for dealing with such a catastrophic event. The VAU volunteers donated over 900 hours in 12 days to meet with homeowners who were relieved to be able to share their feelings of profound loss; after realizing that their precious photo albums and cherished personal items were lost forever. In addition to sending volunteers into the communities, volunteers were also requested to attend the Disaster Reception Centres as well as Community Halls in various areas of the City to provide services for those who were displaced or those who needed information. These volunteers also travelled to High River to assist with their disaster recovery, as representatives of the Calgary Police Service, when resources there were unable to meet the high demand.
The VAU Call Centre still needed volunteers to attend their designated shifts to connect with victims of crime and tragedy requiring support and information on their victimization. They offered emotional support to victims who thought their journey through the criminal justice system was finally coming to an end and were faced with trial dates that were cancelled due to the floods. At the same time, volunteers continued to provide 24/7 crisis response to victims in their homes as requested by CPS members. The dedication and commitment of these volunteers was unprecedented in the 36 years of the operation of the Victim Assistance Unit.
CPS Sworn Member award winner: Constable Karl Sudyk
Karl Sudyk joined the Calgary Search and Rescue Association (CALSARA) in 1999 shortly after moving to Calgary. Karl Sudyk continued to develop skill sets with CALSARA and quickly was recognized for his organizational abilities and became a training officer with CALSARA. In 2006, Karl Sudyk joined the Calgary Police Service. Constable Sudyk’s relationship with CPS Search Management grew out of his continued association as a volunteer with CALSARA and he became a volunteer CPS Search Manager in 2007. In this role Karl Sudyk strengthened the relationship between CALSARA and CPS, moving the CPS vision of CALSARA from a relatively unknown quantity to the current understanding of a trustworthy professional group of volunteers that provides exceptional service to the CPS. As a part of paying forward for the services that CALSARA provides to CPS and using his skills as a mountain bike patrol officer, Constable Sudyk developed and continues to instruct a Mountain Bike Search and Rescue Course for CALSARA on an annual basis.
The evening’s events were 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.
- 30 -
Photo Credits:
Photos by Tim Bellaart
Photo 1: Joyce Gardam
Photo 2: Naomi Johnson and Gary Strother
Photo 3: CPS Victim Assistance Unit Representatives (in alphabetical order) Kira Devries, Joan Lawrence, Janice Parker and Scott Regier; and their nominator Constable Kevin Sawatzky
Photo 4: Constable Karl Sudyk
Public Contact Information:
Calgary Police Commission
Tel: 403-428-8914
Email: cpced@calgarypolicecommission.ca