McBride, BC – There’s a new story being written in the Robson Valley, thanks to a reading progam that involves local mounties reading to children…

Every week, RCMP officers from the McBride and Valemount Detachments take turns reading to kids involved in the Robson Valley Support Society’s children’s centre.

Officers like Constable Simon Bentley drop into the centre to read a book and chat with the kids about everything from his job to the kids’ pets and their favourite hobbies. (photo at right courtesy The Valley Sentinel)

Elizabeth de Vries is a counsellor at the society for children and youth exposed to domestic violence.  After realizing a startling number of her clients had were afraid of the RCMP, de Vries felt the reading program would be a way for the kids to realize police officers are safe and approachable people.  "Often families living with domestic violence have an unspoken rule to not involve outsiders, especially the police," says de Vries.  "For some children, the only interactions they’ve ever had with the police are when an officer is arresting one of their parents."

What a difference a book, or books, make.  Constable Bentley says the kids have become really familiar and comfortable with the local RCMP members.  "So much so," he says, "That when we are out shopping in stores or just out on the street, they always say, ‘Hi’, and tell us what they are up to.  Their parents have been very supportive and often stop members to say ‘Thank you’."

The McBride Detachment’s officers:  Corporal Barry Kennedy, and Constables Nathan Fox, Brady Knezacek, and Peter Berndsen each take their turn weaving animated tales of delight for the kids.  Corporal Kennedy says not only are the kids benefitting from the program, but the RCMP are finding it rewarding, as well.