We had the pleasure of receiving officers from the Calgary Police Service (CPS) and the Royal Canada Mounted Police (RCMP) to offer a warm welcome to newly arrived Afghan refugees.
Showing the significance of the visit, Corporal Geordie Simpson from the Alberta RCMP’s Community Engagement Unit, said, “I know that a number of them have had traumatic experiences dealing with police in their country. We are here to let them know that the police in Canada are approachable, are a part of the community and are committed to making the community safe for everyone.”
Constable Tracey Ford, who is the South Asian and Caribbean Liaison Officer of the Calgary Police Service’s Diversity Resource Team added, “We are delighted to be here today to welcome the Afghan refugees and to let them know that we are happy that they made it to Calgary safe. We wanted them to know that we’re their friends, that they can trust and that we’re here to help them whenever they need us.”
While commending the commitment of both police services to building bridges and relationships with Calgary’s diverse communities, CCIS CEO, Fariborz Birjandian, assured the Afghan refugees, “The police in Canada are different. They are our friends and are working for us and not the government. If they come to your door, don’t be afraid to answer. If you have concerns, don’t hesitate to approach them. Trust them.”
The Afghan kids were excited to receive lots of goodies from the CPS including fluffy teddy bears, activity books, markers, and mock police badges.
