RCMP ceremony welcomes new leader

KIRSTEN MURPHY

Nunavut said goodbye to outgoing RCMP V Division chief superintendent Vern White and welcomed John Henderson at an official transfer of command service at the legislature on Jan. 14.

Friends, family and dignitaries packed into the chamber for the two-hour ceremony, which also recognized eight new Inuit constables working throughout Nunavut.

“I want to thank chief superintendent Vern White for his tireless support. Though he’s only been here since April 2001, Vern’s impact has been fundamental and we have accomplished much through our partnership,” said Premier Paul Okalik, who is also the minister of justice.

“In addition to actively recruiting Inuit, White was instrumental in supporting our efforts to open or re-open detachments in order to increase the health and safety of our residents and members of the RCMP. His dedication to our common goal is worthy of note.”

White’s 20 years with the RCMP has been spent in Labrador, the Yukon, the Northwest Territories and most recently Nunavut. He leaves V Division to work with the federal department of the solicitor general in Ottawa.

Chief superintendent Henderson takes over as commanding officer of V Division with 27 years of postings in Alberta, Manitoba, Newfoundland and the Northwest Territories. Most recently, Henderson worked in Selkirk, Manitoba.

Dressed in red serge and boots shinning from fresh polish, the new constables stood at attention and received their official RCMP badges even though the new recruits have been working as full-fledged officers for months.

“Inuit members have a strong insight and understanding of the culture of the majority of Nunavut residents. They possess the language to explain the legal process in a way that has, for the most part, been lacking in the system,” Okalik said.