Twenty-five young people looking to start their career in law enforcement are one step closer after graduating from the Aboriginal Policing Preparation Applied Certificate Program through Saskatchewan Polytechnic.

The 30-week course, offered in Regina, Saskatoon and Prince Albert, allows students to receive cultural awareness training, with an Aboriginal-focused curriculum. The program has been operating for 11 years, with many graduates entering municipal policing or the RCMP.

The valedictorians this year were Parker Filazek and Raylynn Pritchard. Pritchard gave words of inspiration to the grads, saying that the career will be challenging, yet rewarding.

“Today a chapter in our lives has come to an end, but be encouraged as a new chapter is about to begin. In this chapter there will be new questions and you’ll find the answers. You will make mistakes, but you will correct them. You will fall, but you will get back up,” Pritchard said. “You will set new goals and you will surpass them. You will be great, you will be successful, you will be you.”

The chiefs of police of both Regina and Saskatoon were in attendance. They both spoke about the need for the graduates to be good communicators, listeners and above all, have a great attitude while on the job.

(PHOTO: Raylynn Pritchard. Photo courtesy of Dan Jones.)