Youths, RCMP to engage in paintball competition

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This article was published 11/06/2018 (2763 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Youths and RCMP officers in Russell will face off in a friendly paintball competition this weekend, an initiative led by a local who wants to build trust and reconcile relations between the two in his community.

Spending “real time” with RCMP officers through recreation is the best way to build trust, said Caleb Driedger, the 25-year-old co-ordinator at Youth for Christ in Russell who’s organizing the event with a $1,500 federal community service grant.

He said there’s a lack of respect toward RCMP in Russell, attributing that in part to the influence of hip-hop culture on youth in the community.

“A lot of the youth we work with are First Nations youth and there’s obviously a long history of grievances on (the) part of the government of Canada and RCMP, so I’m sure that plays into it, too,” Driedger added.

Kassidy Amyotte, a Grade 11 student at Major Pratt School in Russell and member of the Waywayseecappo First Nation, said she agrees there’s an uncomfortable history between police and First Nations communities that has reinforced the disconnect.

“It’s good (RCMP) are trying to connect with youth,” Amyotte said. “I feel like they only try to catch us doing something wrong.”

Driedger said he expects about four RCMP officers and 30 youth to attend the competition, which is set to take place at a paintball park in Binscarth on Saturday.

Const. Dustin Kehler, a Mountie in Russell, said he hasn’t had a lot of interaction with youth since he moved to the community six months ago, adding that fact itself speaks to the relationship.

“I have been in the school before and (students) almost try to dodge you,” he said. “They don’t want to come and approach you.”

Kehler said he hopes the paintball competition will make Mounties more approachable, adding he wants to learn the students’ names and have conversations with them when he drops by Major Pratt School in the future.

Ray Nychuk, 14, plans to try paintball for the first time at the competition. He said his relationship with RCMP officers is “pretty good” because his best friend’s dad is a cop. As for the rest of the youth in the community, he said he’s not so sure. He said paintball will be a “bonding” experience.

Driedger is one of eight Manitobans to receive a Rising Youth community service grant since the federal program launched in January.

Manitobans between age 15 to 30 can apply online (risingyouth.ca) by pitching a volunteer-driven idea they believe will impact their community and requires between $250 to $1500 to run.

The grants, which are funded by the federal government’s Canada Service Corps initiative, are given out by TakingITGlobal, a not-for-profit that runs education programs to empower youth.

The goal is to hand out grants to at least 300 Manitobans by 2020, said Ashley Richard, a youth engagement activator at TakingITGlobal.

So far, grants have gone towards events such as a community park cleanup in St. Theresa Point First Nation, tree planting in Cypress River and a book drive at Brooklands Elementary School.

“When you look at these initiatives, they cause a ripple effect throughout a community,” Richard said.

“You can never really predict what is going to happen with just one youth being empowered to rally their community around them with an idea.”

Driedger said it’s been “incredible” to see the community of Russell pitch in for the paintball competition.

On top of the federal grant, local stores are contributing prizes and a local farm, grocery store and the RCMP are donating food for a post-paintball barbecue.

maggie.macintosh@freepress.mb.caTwitter: @macintoshmaggie