No video or stories from officers can truly prepare a candidate for life at the RCMP six-month training depot in Regina. But a week at the Jean Minguy Memorial Youth Academy in Vernon can, and Const. Steven Schenkeveld knows that better than anyone. Schenkeveld, a Vernon-North Okanagan RCMP officer,
attended the academy in its early stages in 2001 as a student at Charles
Bloom Secondary in Lumby. “I think I always knew what I wanted to do (RCMP), and
the Minguy academy prepares kids for the depot experience,” said
Schenkeveld. “You can watch videos or hear about it word of mouth, but
the academy puts the student in the depot world.” Designed to attract aspiring police officers, the Jean
Minguy Memorial Youth Academy gives Grade 11 and 12 students insight
into what depot training is like. Everything from early-morning call-outs, making and remaking their beds in the middle of the night, eating as a troop. Schenkeveld, posted to the local detachment’s traffic
division, now gives back to the academy as an instructor. He even helped
at the academy before getting into the RCMP as an actor playing out
police scenarios. “Last year, we gave the students scenarios for
break-and-enter, theft, mischief and having someone drunk in public,”
said Schenkeveld. “I was the traffic facilitator, mainly giving the
students the traffic aspect of our work.” The camp also included a police service dog and
handler, who, in a mock situation, uncovered drugs hidden in a
commercial vehicle. The academy, named for the popular Vernon RCMP
constable who drowned on duty in Okanagan Lake in 2005, will run April
29 to May 5 at the Vernon Army Camp. Students are housed in the camp’s barracks. While the camp is aimed at attracting students who want
to pursue a career in law enforcement, it’s also open to students who
want a challenge. “We want to draw them outside their comfort zone, and
make them realize, ‘hey, I can do this,’” said Vernon RCMP school
liaison officer Kathy Szoboticsanec. “Many of the students amaze me with
the things they do at the school, in the community and the other things they’re involved in.” Interested students go through a stringent application
process which includes filling out the application process, going to a
series of interview questions and a fitness test. Szoboticsanec works with career coordinators in the
secondary schools and look at the students’ attendance, discipline and
how they’re contributing to the community as a volunteer. “Once they go through all of the hoops, it’s certainly rewarding,” said Szoboticsanec. “It’s a life-changing experience.”The academy is chaired by Terry Pakenham, who Szoboticsanec credits for
doing a lot of behind the scenes activity. The cost for the academy,
which is open to students from throughout the Okanagan, is $250. Last
year’s academy drew 42 students. Any interested student can check with
their school’s
career coordinator, or get more information on the academy at http://www.sd22.bc.ca/RCMP/index.html
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