THUNDER BAY – For much of her life Chelsey Hardick has heard people tell her she wouldn’t be able to be a police officer.
Even family and friends told her she either wasn’t big enough, wasn’t strong enough or the career was too difficult for women. But she proved them wrong.
Now an OPP provincial constable stationed in Red Lake, Hardick credits the force’s northern police experience initiative in helping her gain confidence she was right for the job.
“I knew that I wanted to apply. I knew this was the career I wanted to do,” she said.
“You get to experience what life is going to be like when you go for training. You do scenarios and it gives you a little more insight into the career you’re choosing. Words can’t describe how beneficial this weekend is.”
The OPP ran another of their practical, hands-on experiencing seminars this weekend at the Boys and Girls Club as well as the old Jumbo Gardens School to give prospective recruits a glimpse at what exactly a career in policing entails.
There were 41 potential candidates, from all across the province, who gave the extensive seminar a shot on Saturday.
They participated in defensive tactics training, fitness testing, mock crime scene exercises and an emergency response team presentation among other activities.
Sgt. Jim Wilson said it’s an especially effective training and recruitment tool.
“It’s putting them in the real world of policing, instead of (wondering) what it’s like or they think it’s like based on TV shows, they’re actually getting a hands-on (experience),” he said.
“I think that’s the way to go to get a real solid ground of what it is like to be a police officer.”
While the session attracted participants from across Ontario, it has a special focus on potential recruits from the region.
Candidates who already know the specific challenges and people in the area they would be serving have an advantage.
“We really are pushing from the North for the North,” Wilson said. “It’s a huge asset to be able to recruit people from this area for this area because they know what the hardships are in the Northwest.”
Hardick grew up in Thunder Bay and said she believes that is helping her while she works in a location even further northwest.
“It’s a huge advantage for me growing up in the North and being able to relate to people in the North because you know what it’s like,” she said.
“I know what Northwest living is like, what winters are like and that summers are short so you better enjoy them.”
