Kimberly Detachment Sgt. Wins Veterans’ Award

October 25, 2019

RCMP Veterans’ Association

Veterans Helping Veterans and Their Families

This information is being provided to all Association Members

*The Southeast District of “E Division Awards and Recognition Ceremony, held on Oct. 10, 2019 in Kelowna BC.*

Dear Association Members,

A message was recently published reporting on the receipt of an award from Okanagan Division to Kimberly Detachment Commander, Sgt. Chris Newel.

Okanagan Division President, Allan Speevak has added a clarification to the article that had appeared in the Cranbrook Daily Townsman. The paper described the award as the 2019 Police Officer Award. Allan has noted that the correct name is the 2019 Veterans’ Award.

Allan has also provided the criteria for the award being presented,
“to the serving member who best reflects the mission, vision and values of the RCMP.”

Behind the award is, “The idea of retired members honouring those still serving, hopefully would be seen as a meaningful award coming from experienced people. “

The original idea came from Vancouver Division member Ric Hall. Allan developed the program for Okanagan Division with the initial idea of being able to mentor the younger members of the Force. Ric wasn’t too certain about the mentoring concept since the police world is changing so quickly that the direction that retired members might be able to provide would not be sufficiently current to be of help to the serving members. As an alternative Ric piloted the idea of the Veterans’ Award at Surrey Detachment and Okanagan Division picked up on this idea and piloted it themselves at Vernon, B.C. in 2017.

Allan shared the idea with South Okanagan Division who also “picked up the baton, and made a Veterans’ Award to a serving member from among the Detachments in the South Okanagan Division catchment areas, namely a traffic member who was also acting or acted as the NCO i/c Grand Forks Detachment.

Allan has also noted that “In Okanagan Division, the Veterans’ Award includes a Certificate and a pair of engraved Long Shank Spurs, purchased from Royal Spurs of Regina”.

Additionally Allan has offered to give “the background of the Award to other Divisions across the country, so that if they choose they too could make a similar Award from among the members serving within their respective catchment areas.

Allan “would be pleased to share our qualifications for this Award and the digital nomination form we implemented, to make it easy for members to nominate possible candidates for the Award. The Award nominations are forwarded to the District or Sub Division closest to the Veterans Division initiating the Award. After vetting by the District or Sub Division Commander or his representative, a small Committee of Veterans, then review the nominations and make their selection. The Award is then presented at the next Division/District/Sub Division Awards Ceremony.

A caveat offered by Allan is that “there is one challenge so far however, and that is getting the serving members to nominate candidates for this Award. In effect very few nominations have been received to date, and in view of that and the expense of the Award, Okanagan Division has made this a bi-annual Award. Personally I am of the view that due to our shortage of members pretty well everywhere (well certainly in “E Division), and in view of the demands on members for extensive data entry on computer systems these days, they are simply too busy to make the time to complete the one or two page digital nomination form”.

Allan’s details on the full nature of this award gives us a tremendous perspective on an initiative to strengthen our bond with the serving members and provide an award system for deeds that serving members perform that the Force cannot always recognize. The shining of a positive public light on both our Association and the serving members of the Force can only enhance the role that the Association plays in the lives of the serving members and enhance the public perception of the Force.

If Divisions would like to adopt this idea, as mentioned, Allan is most interested in helping you get started.

Similarly, if you need help from the National Office please let us know how we can help.

Images from the event are below.

James Forrest
Director of Communications
RCMP Veterans’ Association