I'm « Beaux, jeunes et forts ».... at the Police Academy !

The SPVM Police Academy opened its doors to 5^th and 6^th grade students once again this summer. Children from all across the island will have the opportunity to spend a week with real police officers, at an amazing summer camp.

From July 5 to 9, 40 10-to-12-year olds will be initiated into the career of police officer, thanks to activities organized and supported by SPVM police officers who became camp counsellors for a week. First established in 2005, this day camp has already hosted 150 kids, the winners of a contest held by community relations officers in neighbourhood stations or referred by community organizations such as the Centre jeunesse de Montréal or the Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Montréal, etc. 

While the young participants are interested in learning all about life at the SPVM, they're even more pleased to have to opportunity to get to know SPVM officers in person during this extraordinary week. The camp offers a wide variety of activities and alternates between sports and policing techniques. Here are just a few of the activities they do: 

• introduction to the police code and note taking
• vehicle inspection
• meeting the cavalry and the canine unit
• first aid courses
• soccer, laser tag, water polo, rock climbing, etc.
• diploma ceremony and participation gifts 

"The objective of Beaux, jeunes et forts... at the Police Academy is to create a forum for discussion, learning and exploration between youth and police, in order to develop better relations between the SPVM and the adults of tomorrow. The smiles on everyone's faces - and even tears from those who didn't want it to end! - proved that this activity is very worthwhile," declared Julie Prince-Dagenais, an officer with the SPVM Section Relations avec la communauté and a coordinator at the day camp.