Cadet program builds life skills
Building life skills, strength and self-confidence are among the goals of a new cadet program launched by the Kativik Regional Police Force on June 9.
“Power up! Discover a new you!” is the motto of the program, which will include a junior division for youth 14 to 18 who are still in school and senior division for youth 18 to 21.
The junior program will feature summer training camps and other activities.
The senior program will be geared towards interesting youth in a career in law enforcement and will include physical training as well as an introduction to the concepts of the law and law enforcement, says a Kativik Regional Government news release.
Cadets will be paired with KRPF officers in their communities who will act as coaches, supervising activities and guiding the cadets through the program.
Cadets will not be asked to participate in police work, the news release says.
But they will be paid for their participation in the cadet program. Junior cadets will receive $12 an hour and senior cadets will get $14 an hour.
The entire cadet program will cost the KRPF about $2.5 million in 2009, according to budget figures tabled at the recent KRG council meeting in Tasiujaq.
“This program makes sense, it creates part-time jobs for our youth while helping the KRPF achieve its goals of integrating more local officers into the force, which creates more jobs,” said Margaret Gauvin, director of the KRG’s employment, training, income support and childcare department. “There is no downside to a program like this. Even those youths who go through the program and don’t choose a career in law enforcement will come out the other side with new skills and a strong sense of service to the community.”
For information on how to participate in the cadet program, go to 1-877-964-0739 (819-964-0739 in Kuujjuaq) or visit http://www.krpfcadets.ca.
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