Youth in Policing Graduation

The DRPS Youth in Policing (YIP) Initiative celebrated the culmination of the 2022 YIP Summer Initiative with a graduation ceremony at the Regent Theatre in Oshawa!

The 70 graduate Students, 13 members of the YIP Leadership Team, their families, friends and distinguished guests gathered to celebrate and highlight the numerous accomplishments over the course of eight weeks.

The graduation commenced with the DRPS Pipes and Drums leading a ceremonial parade of the graduates to their seats. CAO Stan MacLellan provided opening remarks and welcomed the Mayor of Oshawa Dan Carter onto the stage, who shared a story to recognize one of the graduates with a letter acknowledging her achievement in growing $20 dollars to $2000 dollars.

Representatives from the six YIP Teams shared each of their major events: Operation G.I.V.E., Hearth Place Cancer Support Centre, Ripple Effect, Junior YIP Camp, C.A.N. Conference and Program Media. The students highlighted the hard work and dedication put forth to make the 2022 YIP Summer Initiative so successful!

The ceremony proceeded with the three valedictorians who shared their most memorable moments through their speeches followed by awards given to students for their outstanding achievements throughout the program.

The Future Aces Award was presented by Bernice Carnegie, the co-founder of the Herbert H. Carnegie Future Aces Foundation, to two students who embody the values of the foundation.

The U.N.I.T.E.D. Award was given to a student who represented the mission statement of YIP. The YIP Award went to a student who most improved. The Community Advocacy and Networking Awarded was presented to Program Coordinator Oscar for his dedication to the program over the past five years.

Another student was recognized for their dedication towards leadership during and beyond YIP, with the Chief Todd Rollauer Award for Outstanding Leadership. After the awards, each student walked onto the stage and was congratulated by CAO Stan MacLellan, Deputy Chief Dean Bertrim, along with the Youth in Policing Team and awarded their YIP Graduation Certificates.

To conclude the ceremony, the Liaison officers of YIP A/Staff Sgt. Dena Peden, Cst. Conrad Wong, and Cst. Melanie Moulton addressed the students with congratulatory remarks expressing their pride for the 70 incredible individuals. To top off the evening, the team responsible for program media, shared their 10-minute video recapping the past eight weeks of the program.

The YIP Team is thankful to all the friends, family and DRPS members who joined us to celebrate the students’ achievements.

If you or someone you know is interested in joining the 2022-23 Youth in Policing Winter Initiative, applications are open until September 19th. For more information, please visit www.drps.ca/yip or email us at youthinpolicing@drps.ca