(Image Credit: CFJC News)

By Sydney Chisholm

RCMP YOUTH ACADEMY

Next generation of RCMP recruits put through their paces at Kamloops Youth Academy

Mar 19, 2024 | 6:00 PM

KAMLOOPS– It may be spring break, but for 14 local high school students class is in session. The RCMP Youth Academy has set up shop at Brocklehurst Middle School where students are halfway through a six-day intensive depot experience.

“I’ve always been interested in policing ever since I was a young girl,” explained grade 12 student, Christina Boucher.

The RCMP Youth Academy provides a glimpse into life as a police officer, students eat, sleep and train together as if they were at police training in Regina.

“It’s been like a fun experience. It teaches you a lot about teamwork and dedication, especially waking up at six in the morning. It can be difficult, but you got to push through it,” said Uday Kahlon-Mondair, a grade 11 student cadet. “It teaches you a lot about law enforcement and the types of like certain units you can go into.”

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SD73 Director of Instruction for Secondary Education, Rick Kienlein says programs like this one help students make informed decisions.

“You can do some research online. You can talk to people in terms of mentors or others who are in the industry,” said Kienlein. “But actually getting an opportunity to spend six days learning about a breadth of career options within a certain career cluster is really important for students to be able to make those informed decisions as they move through school and into post-secondary.”

Throughout the week, students learn about all aspects of law enforcement from different presenters.

“Lots of times we think of law enforcement just as policing. However, there are lots of different types of law enforcement and community agencies that support law enforcement,” said Cpl. Dana Napier from the Kamloops RCMP.

“So it’s a great way for them to get a sampling to see if this is something they like to do and they want to extend into that career path.”

Grade 11 student Ryan McLarnon wants to follow in his grandfather’s footsteps and become a RCMP officer. He joined the academy to explore his options.

“I guess that’s what I’m here for, to find which [unit] I want to go in for,” he said.

This year’s student cadets will graduate from the program on Thursday. Many of them hope it is just the beginning of their law enforcement career and are leaving with a new confidence.

“I think one of the moments where I really realized I could was the first day I arrived,”

“I immediately volunteered to be rightmarker. And since then, I have been able to prove to myself that I excel in a situation like this and that I can be a cop because I want to be a great one,” said Boucher.