South Simcoe Police launch Newcomers Academy
While the South Simcoe Police Service has been running a citizen’s police academy for years, the one hosted throughout the month of May had a twist.
Instead of seniors or other residents, it has helped in the past; the community services department specifically hosted newcomers to Canada once a week.
“I’m from a family of newcomers. My parents came over here from Switzerland many years ago, but growing up with parents who had to learn the language and figure out resources and all of that. That definitely played a part,” said South Simcoe Police Special Constable Elisabeth Aschwanden.
The month-long course, which ran for two hours every Tuesday in May, gave people integrating into a new country a chance to understand their surroundings better.
Many students who participated in the program are lawyers, doctors, and teachers but have had to restart their lives in Canada. Coming from all across the globe, the newcomers could connect and ask questions about settling into a new culture without worrying about their language barrier.
“Road safety, fire safety, settlement services, mental health, employment, food bank. Any possible resources that they could access that are actually free in Bradford, they were here,” said Tiffany Tyrrell-Shand, a job developer with CONTACT Community Services.
With many students from countries that fear the police, it was a chance to build trust and comfort in asking for help.
“It’s a little scary, police. But here in Canada, in Bradford, they are really friendly, and I like it. I’m happy to be here,” said Ratnova.
Officers said they noticed a big difference in the demeanour of each participant from when the class first began until Tuesday’s graduation.
“Today, it was can we take pictures and hugs and asking how to contact me if they need to. So, I think that’s a big takeaway because we can always put them in touch with the community partners as well. So they’ll always have that,” said Aschwanden.
The Newcomers Academy program also allowed the now-local residents to meet others facing the same drastic life changes.
“There are a lot more people in Bradford that are not from Canada than they realized. There is such a huge community of different cultures, diverse cultures that they can connect with on different levels about different things,” said Tyrrell-Shand.
While this is the first year for the Newcomers Academy, officials with South Simcoe Police said this is a program they hope to continue for years to come.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Bird flu, measles top 2025 concerns for Canada's chief public health officer
As we enter 2025, Dr. Theresa Tam has her eye on H5N1 bird flu, an emerging virus that had its first human case in Canada this year.
Azerbaijan observes day of mourning for air crash victims as speculation mount about its cause
Azerbaijan on Thursday observed a nationwide day of mourning for the victims of the plane crash that killed 38 people and left all 29 survivors injured as speculation mounted about a possible cause of the disaster that remained unknown.
Donald Trump says he urged Wayne Gretzky to run for prime minister in Christmas visit
U.S. president-elect Donald Trump says he told Canadian hockey legend Wayne Gretzky he should run for prime minister during a Christmas visit but adds that the athlete declined interest in politics.
Working Well: Returning to the office can disrupt life. Here are some tips to navigate the changes
Heading into 2025, thousands of workers face an unsettling reality: after years of working from the comfort of home, they must return to the office full-time for the first time since the coronavirus pandemic or look for new work.
Prayers and tears mark 20 years since the Indian Ocean tsunami that killed some 230,000 people
People gathered in prayer and visited mass graves in Indonesia’s Aceh province on Thursday to mark 20 years since the massive Indian Ocean tsunami hit the region in one of modern history’s worst natural disasters.
New York taxi driver hits 6 pedestrians, 3 taken to hospital, police say
A taxicab hit six pedestrians in midtown Manhattan on Wednesday, police said, with three people — including a 9-year-old boy — transported to hospitals for their injuries.
Historical mysteries solved by science in 2024
This year, scientists were able to pull back the curtain on mysteries surrounding figures across history, both known and unknown, to reveal more about their unique stories.
Thousands without power on Christmas as winds, rain continue in B.C. coastal areas
Thousands of people in British Columbia are without power on Christmas Day as ongoing rainfall and strong winds collapse power lines, disrupt travel and toss around holiday decorations.
Ho! Ho! HOLY that's cold! Montreal boogie boarder in Santa suit hits St. Lawrence waters
Montreal body surfer Carlos Hebert-Plante boogie boards all year round, and donned a Santa Claus suit to hit the water on Christmas Day in -14 degree Celsius weather.