MOOSONEE – Crimebeat – Police officers in most Canadian urban settings would likely consider the winter conditions that are faced for months on end by officers in Canada’s north as incredible. The weather this week for example across the north in Ontario was cold. There was a wind chill warning in effect with the temperatures feeling like it was minus 55. Northern Police officers face weather conditions with training and skill. Dealing with accidents on the winter roads, can be extremely dangerous. Police officers from the Ontario Provincial Police, and the Nishnawbe-Aski Police Service (NAPS) face those conditions all winter long in the North.
NAPS serves the 35 First Nation communities in the Nishnawbe-Aski Nation Territory. Officers are spread across an area that equals two-thirds of the province of Ontario, from the Manitoba border up the James Bay Coast over to the Quebec border.
In the case of an officer having a problem with a vehicle, the weather can, without the right training make what in the south is a simple problem, into a life threatening one right away.
Chris Kataquapit, who works to ensure the safety of children in Ontario’s North, shares, “The specialized OPP Officers are here to train local OPP/NAPS in winter survival should officers run into problems on the winter road”.
“Winter Survivalist Trainers from the OPP took the time to stop and speak with CUPE Union President Mike Tomatuk & Payukotayno employee Steve Sackaney about the reasoning behind the construction of a newly-built teepee,” added Kataquapit. “Tomatuk explained that a community feast is planned for tomorrow at noon at 51 Bay in support of improved Child Welfare Services and to support frontline staff of Payukotayno James and Hudson Bay Child & Family Services“.
Christopher Kataquapit © 2012 Photos
Have you watched Ice Road Truckers? Here are some tips from those experts on dealing with northern conditions: www.history.com.