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By Tyler Marr

COMMUNITY POLICING

Loon Lake RCMP officer planning youth hockey tournament

Feb 21, 2019 | 1:59 PM

Const. Heather Healey has been involved in sport her entire life, be it on the ice or the diamond.

An RCMP officer in Loon Lake, Healey became involved with the atom team on the Mawka Sahgaiehcan First Nation (MSFN) before embarking on a larger project to better the community and the view of the RCMP.

She crafted the idea of a U-15 hockey tournament at the MSFH arena and received hasty support. She made posters and registration forums and approached the band office, which donated ice time for the event. The superintendent for ‘F’ Division detachment ordered merchandise from the RCMP Heritage Centre in Regina to give out as prizes.

“People’s outlook is always if the cops are around something bad is happening, but I don’t want people to have that outlook on us,” she said. “We do get involved in a lot of good things as well. This event is hopefully going to build that relationship with the community of Makwa Sahgaiehcan and Island Lake.”

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Admitting one hockey tournament and a recruitment presentation is not going to change lives, Healey hopes it can slowly push troubled youth to do the right thing.

“But if you can get that one person that is one less to worry about,” she said, adding it will give youth in the community another opportunity to be physically active, too.

The event will take place on March 16 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the MSFN arena. Registration runs until March 10 and is free, with forums available at the arena and MSFN and Island Lake First Nation schools. Lunch and drinks will be provided to the players. An RCMP recruitment presentation, which is open to all ages, takes place at noon.

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tyler.marr@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @JournoMarr