Bonnyville RCMP will be busy handing out tickets this summer, but not the kind you would expect.
In an effort to encourage youth to be smart, active, and obey the law, the local detachment is partnering up with the Bonnyville and District Centennial Centre to give out positive tickets.
“One of the main things we’re going to be looking for is if a youth is found in the community wearing their helmet while riding their bike, on a skateboard, or scooter, and a police officer witnesses it, they could receive one of these tickets,” explained Sgt. Kim Hillier.
The tickets aren't only the RCMP's way of promoting safety. They also mean a free wall climbing session at the C2.
Victoria Bird, fitness and recreation manager for the Centennial Centre, said they were on-board the minute they heard about the possible collaboration.
"We think it's a really great initiative in the community to promote safety practices with the youth and also help keep them active throughout the summer months," she expressed.
The idea came to Cst. Megan Letang after an interaction with a young boy in Glendon.
"He had done something really positive and I asked S/Sgt. Sarah Parke if there was something we could do. She told me that they used to do this in Lac La Biche when she was a constable... I thought this was a really good idea and that we should do it here."
The RCMP are hoping the initiative will not only act as a reminder that it's important to be safe and follow the law, but also that contact with police isn't always the result of a negative experience.
“We want them to have positive interactions with the police, because you never know when we might be involved in someone’s life, whether it be at the scene of an accident or something that goes on at home,” Hillier exclaimed. “We also want them to know that just because we’re approaching them, it’s not a scary situation. We want them to know that following the law and being safe is a good thing."
She continued, “It also gives our members an opportunity to interact in the community with the kids and lets the kids get to know a police officer one-on-one."
Letang agreed.
“I think kids look at us in a really positive way, so the fact that we’re taking the time out of our busy days to stop and interact with them in a positive way, reinforces that idea in them."
The program starts June 1 and is expected to wrap-up when school is back in session.
