Vernon, B.C.鈥檚 RCMP Appreciation Day is going national.
The group which hopes to make Feb. 1 RCMP Appreciation Day across B.C. is extending its campaign Canada-wide, as announced by committee co-chairperson Martin von Holst Wednesday at Vernon鈥檚 Schubert Centre.
鈥淚t is with great pride that we would like to announce that the RCMP Appreciation Day in B.C. committee is becoming the RCMP Day in Canada committee,鈥� said von Holst.
鈥淲e鈥檝e already received some support in Alberta, and we plan to reach out to each of the provinces. There already is an RCMP Appreciation Day in Manitoba, started in 2016.
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鈥淲e believe, after 100 years, it鈥檚 time to say thank you.鈥�
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police鈥檚 100th anniversary is Feb. 1, 2020.
鈥淥ur national police force needs to be recognized for the contributions they鈥檝e made toward public safety,鈥� said North Okanagan-Shuswap MP Mel Arnold. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 not to take anything away from provincial or city police forces for the work they do. As the original national police force, I think the RCMP stand out representing safety and security right across the country. I鈥檓 looking ahead to moving this forward and getting further support.鈥�
The original campaign was to make Feb. 1 RCMP Appreciation Day in B.C., a way of thanks to the men and women of the force who keep the province鈥檚 communities safe. The campaign received many letters of support from seven MPs, 37 communities and 18 MLAs, including Vernon-Monashee Liberal MLA Eric Foster.
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鈥淚鈥檓 most happy to put my support behind this initiative,鈥� said Foster, who presented a 1,000-plus name petition on the subject in the Legislature. 鈥淚 commend the City of Vernon for taking the initiative to be first.鈥�
Vernon Mayor Victor Cumming said one of the critical things in the North Okanagan is having a safe, comfortable, predictable community.
鈥淎nd a huge piece of that is the role our policing plays and here, we have the luxury of the RCMP,鈥� said Cumming. 鈥淲e have the luxury of extremely well-trained RCMP and we enjoy that luxury every single day.
The committee is to help spread the campaign provincially and nationally.
roger@vernonmorningstar.com
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