POLICE ASSOCIATION OF NOVA SCOTIA 37 PANS in the community participants moving into non-traditional careers. "There are police officers, paramedics, there are people in school. We have about a 33 per cent success rate of graduates going on into emergency services, furthering their education in emergency services, or becoming a police officer, firefighter or paramedic, and that is outstanding rate considering most of our campers are still in high school." On the Camp Courage website, there are 50 Wall of Fame stories, with another 10 to be added soon, of former campers who are in career positions or in school preparing for positions in emergency services. Speranza says the difference in the girls between the first day and the last day is incredible. She even has parents asking what happened to their child and how so much confidence was instilled. When Speranza first joined Halifax Regional Fire and Emergency Services, she was one of only a few female firefighters. Three per cent of firefighters were women, and now that number is closer to six per cent. She says the camp is helping to inspire more young women to follow their dreams of helping their communities. For more information, or to apply, visit www.campcourage.ca. DeGroot, along with constables Kelly Quinn and Danny Quinn, form the Truro Police Service’s community enhancement division. DeGroot is also the school resource officer for Truro Elementary, Truro Junior High and Ecole acadienne de Truro, while Kelly Quinn is the resource officer at Cobequid Educational Centre and Danny Quinn is the town traffic officer. “It’s good to let children see we’re normal people,” said DeGroot. “Some kids have told me they didn’t know they could talk to police. Getting in the community lets people see us in a different light.” As community enhancement officers they also provide presentations to groups, from preschoolers to seniors. Topics they’ve addressed include phone scams, fraud, street safety, internet safety and cyberbullying, and they’d like to hear from people interested in having them speak. The community room at the station can be booked for these presentations. “When we do talks in the community we’re learning, too,” said Kelly Quinn. “We sometimes think we know what people want to talk about and then they ask questions and things go in another direction.” The officers also provide tours of the station, attend events like youth and seniors expos, and will help people organize neighbourhood watches. Kelly Quinn will be working on the CEC Safe Grad and may be looking for volunteers to assist her. As originally published on March 6, 2017 by Lynn Curwin, Truro Daily News Truro´s community enhancement officers are ready to share High-fives and hugs are some of the most meaningful rewards Const. Karen DeGroot receives for her work as a police officer. The Truro Police Service’s community enhancement division consists of, from left, constables Kelly Quinn, Karen DeGroot and Danny Quinn.
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