West Shore RCMP partner up with Victoria Police Department to host ‘NHL Street’ in Langford this summer

West Shore

2024-08-02 08:14 PDT

West Shore RCMP was pleased to partner up with the Victoria Police Department to host ‘NHL Street’ in Langford this summer.

The 6-week program is an inclusive and accessible league that focuses on keeping kids’ active, no matter their hockey experience.

Transcription

Video description:

Video opens showing kids playing ball hockey.

Video shows Cst. Cole Brewer, West Shore RCMP is talking about NHL Street Hockey program. There is ball hockey game being played behind him.

Videos shows kids running and playing ball hockey.

Video depicts Volunteer Coach Garry Dhillon talking about the NHL Street Hockey Program.

Video depicts two kids, Aiden and Max talk about their experience in the program.

Video depicts Cst. Cole Brewer talking about the program and the connections with the kids, video then shows the kids playing hockey and spectators watching.

Video depicts Chief Del Manak, Victoria Police Department talking about how this program humanize’ police.

Video transcription:

Cst. Cole Brewer, West Shore RCMP: NHL Street is a youth ball hockey league. Kids come down here every Tuesday evening. We set up the improvised rinks. They play a little ball hockey. It’s all for fun. It’s a good way to keep kids busy in the summer. It’s really good way for us as the police outside of the school year to maintain contact with youth and interaction. Especially such a positive fun way. You see all these people here having a pretty good time.

[Youth in white jerseys celebrate a ball hockey goal]

[Cst. Brewer talking in front of a ball hockey game being play]

[Youth in red jersey taking a shot and a goalie in a white jersey making a save]

[Youth in a white jersey makes a save. RCMP car in the background]

[Red jersey team and white jersey team shake hands after a game]

[Families watch players warm up. RCMP motorhome in the background]

[Youth in white jersey high fives teammates]

Garry Dhillon, Volunteer Coach: It’s a great little program. 5-6 week program that kids get to play outdoors and have fun and be kids.

[Coach Dhillon talking to camera]

[Youth in white jersey celebrates with a teammates]

Cst. Brewer: It’s tons of fun because these kids are excited to be here they want to be here. Especially the younger kids.

[Youth players in red jerseys cheer with a member of the Victoria Royals Hockey Club]

Aiden, Flames Player: Getting to play the game, having fun.

[Aiden talking to camera]

Max, Flames Player: When you get a goal, It isn’t just you getting the goal it’s the person that gave you the assist. I love it. It’s the best.

[Max talking to camera]

Cst. Brewer: It’s important for kids to see us in that normal lens. To be down here interacting the kids, refereeing the game and positive interactions as opposed to enforcement capacity. You get to meet them especially over the course of a six-week season. And they go you know what, Cst. Brewer, Cst. Varley, Cst Hall and Cst Webb, are just normal people, just like my parents my teachers, except for they wear a uniform.

[Youth in white jersey celebrates with goalie]

[RCMP officer drops the road hockey ball for a faceoff]

[RCMP Community Policing volunteer gives youth a juice box]

[Member of Langford Fire Department watches ball hockey game]

[RCMP member gives youth a sticker]

[RCMP officer talking to youth player in front of a hockey net]

[Two RCMP officers hand out hot dogs]

[RCMP officer talking to a young child]

[Langford Fire Department member drops the road hockey ball for a faceoff]

[RCMP officer walking with a ball hockey game in the background]

Chief Del Manak, Victoria Police Department: I think the NHL Street program allows kids to play street hockey and humanizes police officers. We’re here supporting the kids, cheering them on, we’re refereeing their games half the time and it just allows kids to really see Police in a non-traditional role and build those positive relationships.

[Ref drops the ball for a faceoff with youths in red and blue jerseys]

[Chief Manak talking to camera in front of ball hockey game being played]

[RCMP officer and Victoria Police Department laughing together]

[Victoria PD Officer drops the road hockey ball for a faceoff]

[Victoria PD Officer watching ball hockey game]

[RCMP Officer handing out freezies to youth]

West Shore RCMP

It’s a good way to keep kids busy in the summer and it’s a really good way for us as the police, outside of the school year, to maintain contact with youth and interact in such a positive fun way, said Constable Cole Brewer from West Shore’s Indigenous and Community Policing Unit.

The program was launched last year downtown by Victoria Police Department and the Victoria Royals, but with so many kids wanting to take part, the program was expanded this summer to the West Shore.

Over the 6 weeks this summer, Victoria Police Department hosted games outside the Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre downtown and West Shore RCMP at Starlight Stadium in Langford.

One of the things that NHL Street allows us to do is really enhance the partnership we have with our local police departments. The RCMP in West Shore are amazing. We work together very well with them on many different initiatives, Said Chief Manak.

For the RCMP and Vic PD, hosting this program also helps humanize police to youth in the community.

Road hockey is something a lot of kids enjoy doing. They get to play with their friends, get to meet new friends. And through sport it allows the police departments like the RCMP and the Victoria Police Department to connect with youth at a different level, said Chief Del Manak of the Victoria Police Department.

West Shore RCMP would like to thank the Langford Fire Department and the City of Langford for helping to host the games at Starlight Stadium.

Released by:

Cpl. Nancy Saggar
Media Relations Officer
West Shore RCMP
698 Atkins Avenue, Victoria, BC V9B 3A4
Office: 250-474-2264
Fax: 250-474-8790

Email: westshore_media@rcmp-grc.gc.ca
Website: westshore.rcmp-grc.gc.ca (English only)

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