#redsergeproud movement gathers steam

There are many different ways to react to a tragedy. RCMP members and their families were shaken on Jan. 17 by the news that one of their own, Const. David Wynn of St. Albert, had been shot. Wynn later succumbed to those injuries, and his funeral was held on Jan. 25.

The incident convinced Colleen Hughes, a St. Paul resident and the wife of an RCMP officer, to take action.

“Bad things happen, and you want to go out and do something good,&” she said.

Her idea was a simple one: carry out a positive gesture that shows your appreciation to local law enforcement officers, and then challenge others to do the same.

“Me and my son were just going grocery shopping, so we thought we'd pick up something extra and go deliver it (to the RCMP Detachment),&” Hughes said.

She videotaped her experience, and then shared the footage on social media. She's calling it the #redsergeproud challenge, and the movement has already started to gain some ground in St. Paul.

On Jan. 27, the Novice 2 Canadiens hockey team accepted the challenge, and headed over to the detachment after practice to offer up their gesture of gratitude. They came bearing balloons, gifts, and a large sign, excited to show their support.

“It's great. It's nice to see the community involved with the police detachment, especially the kids,&” said Const. Guillaume Wilson, one of the recipients of the children's praise. “If the community is supporting the police, and we're able to work together as partners, the community can only get better.&”

Both Wilson and Hughes were emotionally affected by the tragedy in St. Albert.

“I think it strengthens us. It just makes it real; it makes you appreciate what you have,&” Hughes said.

“I think it strikes everybody really hard,&” added Wilson. “It's like losing a close friend or a family member, even if you don't know the person. But at the end of the day, we do need to keep working.&”

Stephanie Blouin's Grade 2 class at the St. Paul Elementary School carried out a similar gesture on Jan. 28. Students spent some time in the morning preparing cookies and cards for the detachment, and in the afternoon they invited two officers to class in order to ask some questions and present them with the gifts.

“We've been talking a lot about social justice, and how it's not always about receiving, but it's also about giving,&” Blouin said. “The kids thought it would be a nice gesture to make some cookies and some cards for the RCMP.&”

Before the exchange could take place, Sgt. Tim Kelly and Const. Randi Kelly opened up the floor for some questions - and comments - about police work.

“Did you have any emergencies today?&” one curious student asked, followed by queries about how many seats are in a police car, and whether or not there were any “robbers&” in the jail. After the children's questions were answered, class representatives offered up the gifts to the officers.

“It shows that the community cares for us, and it makes us feel good about the job we're doing,&” Sgt. Kelly said about the invitation to visit the classroom. “We don't want the students to see us as the bad guys who take everyone away. We want to be involved in the community, and for them to know that they can come and talk to us anytime.&”

However widespread the #redsergeproud challenge ends up being, the few gestures that have already taken place seem to have gone a long way.

“We appreciate all the signs of their support,&” Sgt. Kelly said. “It shows that they're behind us, and we need that.&”