Burnaby RCMP Youth Section celebrates success of its first-ever Youth Academy

Burnaby RCMP’s Youth Section is celebrating the success of its first-ever Youth Academy program, which was held during Spring Break for 24 grade 11 and 12 students from Burnaby.

The program is designed for students from schools across Burnaby interested in developing leadership skills or who may have expressed interest in law enforcement in various capacities, allowing them to gain a better understanding of policing, law, and what to expect if they choose to pursue law enforcement after graduation.

It also gives students the chance to get mentorship from the police officers who serve in Burnaby.

Interested students were encouraged to apply to the program through a process designed to be similar to what applicants can expect if they decide to pursue a career in policing, which includes an interview.

To be able to bring this program to youth in Burnaby is very rewarding, said Cst. David Waterman of the Burnaby Youth Section. It was a great way for police officers to mentor youth, including those who may be considering a policing career. We found students were interested, engaged, and inquisitive about all aspects of policing.

Youth who attended the five-day academy from March 13 to March 17 took part in classes on law, including traffic law, the Mental Health Act, the history of the RCMP, notetaking, social media, and missing people. There were also presenters from various units within the RCMP, including the Lower Mainland Emergency Response Team, Forensic Investigative Services, Integrated Police Dog Service and Traffic Services.

As well as scenario-based training, such as a simulated vehicle stop and simulated shoplifting situation, students also took part in daily fitness and drill classes, which challenged them to work on their individual skills and to develop as a cohesive team with their peers.

The week wrapped up with a drill performance and graduation ceremony that the students put on for their families.

It was amazing to see how proud the students and their families were after their final drill performance, as it represented the culmination of a week of hard work and learning a completely new skillset, said Insp. Peri Mainwaring, Burnaby RCMP’s Officer in Charge of Community Programs. Our hope is this program encourages leadership, and helps foster positive relationships between youth in Burnaby and police, as well as providing some fundamental building blocks to students who may be interested in a career in any aspect of law or law enforcement. This is a very important initiative to our Youth Section, who value the ability to connect with young people in this kind of environment.

Burnaby RCMP’s 2023 Youth Academy was made possible through a Civil Forfeiture Grant. Burnaby RCMP would also like to extend thanks to the Burnaby School District.