Minister of Justice - National Youth Justice Policing Award 2006

Today's young people are an extraordinary group of Canadians: they can be articulate, engaging, and thoughtful… they can be bewildered, lost, directionless, too.

Some have the tools and the will at their disposal to really give us hope for the future.

For others, it's a tougher road… for all kinds of reasons.

Cues and clues are taken from advertising, music television, films and video games. Adulthood is rehearsed on the ever-changing stage of peer relationships, dating, and discovery.

Each one responds in a unique way to the incredible pressures of their world. The temptations are great… the challenges of avoiding those temptations are enormous.

Today, for far too many young people, the rules and the boundaries just aren't clear… and it's far too easy to find trouble.

But across this nation, there are some very special people who commit to being that thin line…

…that source of guidance, inspiration… someone who challenges, who pushes, who builds trust…

…and understands that respect, self-esteem, self-control, and responsibility can grow from that commitment..

In the spirit of Canada's youth justice renewal, these extraordinary police officers believe in kids …

…believe in fresh thinking and innovation that creates alternatives…

…believe that young people CAN face and own up to their responsibilities - take ownership of their actions.

These are people who believe that most young Canadians can learn lessons about themselves, learn to make smart choices, and grow as people.

The people you are about to meet are police officers who have gone above and beyond.

They have combined innovation and imagination with traditional policing skills and hard work on the front lines to deal with young people in conflict with the law - because they believe that it's worth it…

…because they believe that community, law enforcement, the justice system and young people can work in harmony.

Their efforts benefit their home communities and strengthen the youth justice system in Canada.

The Department of Justice, in collaboration with the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police, congratulates all winners of this year's Minister of Justice National Youth Justice Policing Awards.

To begin, the 2006 winners in the category of Honourable Mention:

Constable Terri Lynn Hazell for her work with the York Regional Police Strategic Approach to Youth Services Program.

Constable J. D. McKinnon of the Halifax Regional Police for his work as a Community Response Officer

Now, the national winners of the Certificate of Distinction:

Sergeant Robert Thirkill and Constable Grant Dokis of the Greater Sudbury Police Service for their work in developing an Aboriginal Strategy which provides a referral service to youth in the early stages of conflict with the law and a multi-phase police mentoring program.

And the 2006 overall winner:

The members of the RCMP Hopedale Detachment:

• Sergeant Jim McEntegart
• Constable Sandy Goudie
• Constable Geoff Pittman
• Constable Gavin Moore; and
• Clara Winters,

for their work with Community Justice Forums in an Inuit community located in northern Labrador. The Forums offer a culturally relevant setting in which the offender, victims and supporters are brought together to agree on an appropriate response to a specific incident of offending. The Hopedale officers then work with the youth to follow through with the response.

Community Justice Forums contribute to the Hopedale community by promoting respect for societal values – such as accountability, appropriate behaviour, cooperation, responsibility and teamwork – and by helping the community to respond to youth in conflict with the law. Community members are educated on the effectiveness of the forums and are also trained to work as facilitators.

The youth benefit from the alternative to the court system – they learn to understand the impact of their actions on the community and to take responsibility for those actions.

The members of the RCMP Hopedale Detachment have invested countless hours of personal time to make the Community Justice Forum program a success. While providing youth with an alternative justice option, Sgt. McEntegart and his team are also helping promote the traditional values of Inuit justice and culture in the community.

The Department of Justice and the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police are proud to recognize, honour and thank the members of the RCMP Hopedale Detachment.

To the winners… and to every police officer across Canada who makes a difference… as a mentor… mediator… coach…friend…

Thank you for what you do.