Correspondence: Canoe Engagement Invitation
Invitation from West Shore RCMP regarding Indigenous Youth canoeing activities and community collaboration.
From: Brewer, Cole Sent: April 12, 2022 6:06 PM To: Jennifer Cochrane jcochrane@viewroyal.ca; Alex Heimburger aheimburger@viewroyal.ca Cc: Todd Preston ; Dovell, Chris Subject: Canoe Engagement Invitation
Jennifer:
I am sending this email, as I have connected with Alex a few times to get access to boat launches etc.. in View Royal for canoeing activities that Westshore RCMP has organized with local Indigenous Youth. We organize most of our Youth Canoeing activities in the Gorge and Esquimalt Harbour, where we typically utilize the boat launch on Shoreline Drive and Maplebank Rd, and we typically paddle to Portage Park, and Cole Island. We are also planning some future events at Thetis Lake, Portage Park, Fort Rodd Hill, and Colwood Lagoon.
As we are conducting several activities in View Royal, I thought I would reach out and connect up with the Town of View Royal and ask if you had interest in being involved in any of the events we plan in View Royal, and also if Council and Town employees had an interest in possibly involving our Canoe and scheduling an event with us?
Our Canoe is a Pacific Dancer 36, which can accommodate 18 Paddlers.
We have some specific events that we are tentatively planning such as engaging with View Royal Elementary School students for a Beach Day/Canoe Day in June that we were thinking would be organized at either Portage Park or Thetis Lake park. I thought possibly a representative from Council or the Parks department may be interested in coming out to the event or even possibly participate.
Similarly I have been advised that Royal Road University is planning to go ahead with their community event for National Indigenous Peoples Day on June 21, which typically involves many canoes, a cultural protocol ceremony and traditional canoe races at Colwood Lagoon. Westshore RCMP has participated in this event several times in the past, and it has been a great experience. My vision or idea for possibly be that as Westshore RCMP detachment represents all 5 municipalities, it would be great to collectively collaborate and fill the canoe with a team of representatives from all 5 municipalities and participate in a Canoe Race during this event!
We find that the canoe is such a fantastic vehicle for team and relationship building with people of all ages. As such we have also utilized our canoe to engage in Team Building activities within the detachment, and with some of our community partners, which may be something that the Town of View Royal Council and Staff may also be interested in.
If you are interested, I would look forward to connecting up and discussing the details and answering any questions.
Take Care
Cole
Constable Cole BREWER Royal Canadian Mounted Police Division Liaison Team Member West Shore Detachment 698 Atkins Avenue Victoria BC, V9B 3A4