From November 12-14, Regional Vice President Valda Behrens and staff person Nancy Peckford attended the Alberta Municipalities Association Trade show event on behalf of USJE. Hundreds of delegates from across Alberta gathered at the TELUS Convention Centre in Calgary for one of the province’s largest municipal meetings.
Approximately 1200 elected officials, municipal staff and other government employees and stakeholders came together to network, participate in a myriad of sessions, and attend the tradeshow. Many newly elected mayors and councillors were among the attendees, demonstrating their eagerness to learn more about the municipal realm.
For the first time in its history, USJE organized to have a booth at the trade show in order to share information about its Serving Together campaign, and our ongoing advocacy to not just keep, but strengthen the role of the RCMP in Alberta.
USJE’s booth featured a well-designed and informative handout on the role of USJE’s members within the RCMP in the province, as well as some convenient travel items including band-aids, mints and a phone stand, all branded with the Serving Together logo and website info.
Conference attendees who stopped by USJE’s booth had the opportunity to ‘spin the wheel’ in order to win one of the items and receive important information about the role of USJE’s members in keeping Albertans safe. Hundreds of delegates did just that – availing themselves of the informative flyer, speaking with RVP Behrens and USJE staff while spinning the wheel to take home a USJE branded item.
While at the booth, the overwhelming majority of delegates shared their positive experiences with RCMP detachments in their area, expressing both their support and appreciation for the positive relationship their municipalities have with the RCMP.
USJE was able to take the opportunity to highlight the role of non-uniformed federal public safety personnel at both RCMP Detachments and at the K Division Regional Headquarters. Many were not aware of USJE and were keen to learn more.
While a very small number of municipal representatives shared some concerns about a lack of staffing within local Detachments, many others said the RCMP was highly visible, engaged and serving their communities well. Time and again, delegates questioned the financial and operational viability of transitioning to an unproven Provincial Policing agency that would only result in a fragmentation of policing operations and unforeseen financial pressures.
It was clear from USJE’s conversations at the Alberta Municipalities Association Trade show that the RCMP is very well regarded overall by a broad range of municipalities across the province. This sentiment echoes the results from a recent independent poll commissioned by the National Police Federation which found that 81 percent of those surveyed agree there are more important priorities for the Province than changing who polices local communities. Further, 76 percent of Albertans in RCMP-served areas are satisfied with their policing, and 71 percent say the public has not been properly consulted about replacing the RCMP.
The National Police Federation (NPF) also had a booth at the Trade show and USJE and NPF reinforced each other’s messaging about the value of the RCMP in Alberta as part of a well-established national organization that is able to bring strength and operational enhancements to the Uniformed and non-Uniformed staff working in communities across the ground.
USJE also emphasized the federal government’s ongoing commitment to hire 1,000 new RCMP personnel, with many of them expected to be deployed to Alberta to address ongoing staffing vacancies. Expanding sworn police officers is a critical step to strengthening public safety and meet the evolving needs of communities in Alberta and across the country.
In addition to its booth at the Alberta Municipalities Association, USJE also looks forward to the Rural Municipalities of Alberta Association Conference and Trade Show event the week of November 20th where we will also have a booth.
Stay tuned to USJE’s website and social media pages for other activities as part of USJE’s Serving Together Campaign.