POLICE ASSOCIATION OF NOVA SCOTIA 47 “It was a learning experience for us,” Jacquard said. For example, the students discovered how difficult it is to raise money. They had to come up with all the fundraising ideas as well, a tough task in and of itself. He described the overall initiative as a bonding experience for the class. There were a couple of the same students at each of the fundraising events and this gave them the opportunity to become closer friends and learn more about each other. Jacquard said some of the students from away don’t know about the local community, but this gave them an opportunity to get involved. Commitment to the community Cst. Angie McWaid, community policing coordinator with the Kentville Police, said she was ecstatic about the students donating the bears. “They worked really hard since January on all sorts of fundraisers,” she said. “It shows the commitment they have to the community. To see the students working to give back to the community made me feel very pleased.” She said if the police get called to a domestic dispute or a serious accident where children are involved, they want to help ease the situation by giving the child a bear. “It takes the focus off the situation.” Kentville Police Chief Mark Mander said he thinks the donation from the students is tremendous and it’s great to see students from all regions of the province and beyond support this community and the Kenville Police. “We look at Kingstec as an educational centre in our community. This is them being part of the community and giving back to the community,” he said. “The Kingstec community should be very proud of what these students have done.” Mander said the bears help to separate the child from the negative incident and take the focus away from a bad situation. “They help the children see the police in a different light,” he said. “It calms them down and takes that fear away.” (...continued) Lana MacEachern The Evening News Cpl. Blair Bannerman of the Containment Response Team shows a group of children some of the weapons used by the team when responding to hazardous situations. The children were participating in a Big Brothers Big Sisters of Pictou County’s Kops ’n’ Kids day camp, for children waiting to be matched with a Big Brother or Big Sister. In the News... Story about the response team
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