Event Helps Bridge Gaps Between Kids and Police

Const. Richard Lemieux, left, Daren the Lion, and Const. Joel Faubert at the Kids Fun Day event organized by the Timmins Police Service – Youth in Policing ambassadors. RICHA BHOSALE/THE DAILY PRESS.

TPS Youth in Policing ambassadors hosted “Kids Fun Day” at Participark on Friday.

Sadie McLaughlin, 5, tries her hand at mini putt at the Kids Fun Day at the Mountjoy Historical Conservation Area on Friday.
RICHA BHOSALE/THE DAILY PRESS

“This event is just a positive way to end the summer as the kids get to come out and have some fun,” said Timmins Police Const. Richard Lemieux.

The event was held at the Mountjoy Historical Conservation Area (Participark).

Jayden Duplin, 4, kicks a soccer ball with some help from mom Kerry during the Kids Fun Day at Mountjoy Historical Conservation Area on Friday.RICHA BHOSALE/THE DAILY PRESS JPG, TD

Lemieux explained, for a couple of years now he has been thinking about doing a “DARE day” in the park which involves Timmins Police and the DARE program just to do something right before the school starts and the kids get to come out and interact with police officers, playing games with them.

The event featured a face painting station, portable mini putt organized by the Putt Around Town also different games like ladder ball, badminton, Frisbee, and a free barbecue for everyone who attended.

Brooke Gauthier, youth ambassador with the Timmins Police Service, said, “While organizing this event, we all had different ideas in our heads which we brought together and that’s why we have so many different activities here today.”

Lemieux was happy with the response and support the community gave for the event.

“There’s already over a 50 kids in the first 10 minutes so, I have no idea what it’s going to be like for the whole day,” he added. “This event is something that I think we should do every year.”

This event was spearheaded by the TPS-Youth in Policing team in collaboration with the DARE Timmins which provided the financial sponsorship to the event.

Mayor George Pirie also joined the community event and said, “The DARE program is just a wonderful program and this day is the celebration for the kids in the community.”

Erin Millette, one of the visitor at the event said, “The kids love coming to the community events, we saw the advertisement on Facebook and we were excited to attend this event today. It’s great that they are putting on something for the community to get everyone together in the community.”

The event also had representatives from Science Timmins to provide an educational component to the day.

Sabrina Maisonneuve, Science Timmins camp counsellor, said, “It’s awesome to have an event where all the kids can come out and try bunch of different activities.”

Maisonneuve added, “We brought bunch of different activities for the kids to try, where we can challenge their abilities and skill sets.”

Also, Lemieux explained he thought about arranging this event to give the kids a chance to interact with the police officers and make them feel they are safe in the community.

Lemieux said, “I want kids to look at us as we are there to help them and not be afraid of us.”

From Timmins Daily Press