ST. PAUL – Junior and senior high school teams from across the Lakeland will compete for the top spot at the annual RCMP Road Race on May 7, near St. Paul.
The public is asked to exercise caution and remain vigilant on the race route.
The race will begin west of St. Brides before continuing east along Highway 29 into the Town of St. Paul. Runners will finish at the Recreation Centre.
Steven Duquette, race coordinator, has been organizing the race for sveral years. "St. Paul RCMP will be present throughout the event alongside our partners from other public safety agencies to monitor traffic and ensure the safety of all our participants," he said.
Coaches, spectators, parents, or fans are also prohibited from driving alongside runners, he said. Only authorized vehicles and personnel are permitted to park south of the highway, as runners will be running along the south shoulder of Highway 29.
Background
Duquette said the event offers opportunities for the RCMP to build stronger relationships with youth throughout the Lakeland, while promoting physical wellness through the facilitation of the RCMP's community policing initiatives.
"As an organization, it is imperative that we continuously work to develop these connections with the youth in our community so that they know they can approach the RCMP when they are needed," he said.
Duquette added he is also happy how coaches express how much the race means to their students. "The amount of effort that is put towards practicing for the competition is nothing short of impressive," he said.
"The student-athletes, coaches, bus drivers, and all other involved school personnel should be commended for their dedication to this long-standing event."
Duquette also thanked all stakeholders for their continued cooperation to ensure the yearly success of the event, including schools and the public safety agencies and emergency services who will be present during the race.
