Support Grows For RCMP Day

By Corey Fischer

Mar 14, 2019 | 3:32 PM

Support is growing for a Vernon-based petition to make Feb. 1st RCMP Appreciation Day.

At a news conference outside Vernon City Hall Thursday, local organizers handed over a 1,001 name document to Vernon Monashee MLA Eric Foster who will champion the cause with his colleagues in Victoria.

“At the first opportunity I will present this in the Legislature to the Speaker of the House,” said Foster.

1,001 name #VernonBC based petition for RCMP Appreciation Day is handed over to MLA Eric Foster who will support it in BC Leg pic.twitter.com/qjfIKlzitv

— Vernon Matters (@VernonMattersca) March 14, 2019

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Also on hand to support the movement was North Okanagan Shuswap MP Mel Arnold, Vernon mayor Victor Cumming, and members of the RCMP.

“It’s a great initiative,” says MP Arnold. “To see it moving forward in the province is amazing. To see your support here in Vernon, as the epi-centre of this wave I hope is going to spread right across the province and eventually the country, is really encouraging.”

MLA Foster noted he was in the RCMP auxiliary in Lumby from the early 1990’s to 1997 and applied to get into the RCMP out of high school.

“But back in the early ages they didn’t take blind people so I couldn’t get it, but I’ve been a huge supporter of police forces in general, but certainly the RCMP. Several family members were career policemen,” said Foster.

Vernon Mayor Cumming told the gathering, RCMP is a critical service to the community.

“They’ve been here a long time, they provide a great service, and we deeply respect them, and we want everyone to understand that we deeply respect them,” said Cumming, adding that extends to current police officers and those that have retired.

Petition co-organizer Martin Von Holst says they hope to have the appreciation day declared before February 1, 2020, the 100th anniversary of the RCMP.

He was pleased to see RCMP members at the news conference.

“We specifically didn’t want it to appear they they are involved in this. This is from the grass roots, just a few citizens that started this, but we’re very happy to see them here, and they deserve the recognition.”

RCMP Constable Kelly Brett saying they appreciate citizens recognizing their daily efforts to help people.

“If we can make a difference in whatever it is were doing, we want to do that. That’s why we do what we do,” says Brett, who was joined by detachment commander Superintendent Shawna Baher at the event.

Petition co-organizer Martin von Holst says support to get RCMP Appreciation Day Feb 1 is growing pic.twitter.com/xxZuqAIvqb

— Vernon Matters (@VernonMattersca) March 14, 2019

Co-organizer Guy Bailey says letters have been sent to all 85 MLA’s and 40 MP’s from BC about the initiative.

“Proclamations take about six months, and we’re in March, so there is a really good chance we could have this done by December. Manitoba is the only province that has an appreciation day. Surrey City council has already sent a letter of support. They are one of the largest detachments in BC,” Bailey tells Beach Radio News.

Anyone wanting to show their support for the petition can go to their Facebook page at RCMP Appreciation Day, or email rcmpappreciationday@gmail.com.

“We’re happy to continue getting signatures, but ultimately this was the start that Eric needed to have to show there is some community support behind it,” adds von Holst.

by Corey Fischer