Regina, SK – September 10, 2007 – This morning, RCMP Academy ("Depot") Division hosted dignitaries including Commissioner William J. S. Elliott and the Honourable Stockwell Day, Minister of Public Safety.
Commissioner Elliott was on hand for the official opening of the new 25-metre indoor Firerarms Range and the groung-breaking ceremony for the new Food Services Building. Shortly thereafter, Minister Day joined the Commissioner to speak with cadets and tour the facilities developed as a result of recent funding from the Government to the Academy.
"The work of the RCMP is of paramount importance in keeping our communities safe and this Government supports our national police force," said Minister Day. "Last summer, Prime Minister Harper announced $37 million to upgrade the RCMP Training Academy. Today, I am pleased to see first-hand how this investment is helping cadets and officers to develop and maintain the skills they need to protect Canadians."
"We are witnessing an unprecedented expansion at "Depot" Division since the inception of the Academy," stated Commissioner Elliott. "These facilities are designed to meet the immediate and future training needs, which is essential to fulfilling our commitment to safe homes and safe communities."
The Food Services Building and the new 25-metre range are part of an unprecedented expansion at "Depot" Division as a result of a substantial increase in cadet training in 2007-2008.
To date, the expansion has resulted in the installation of new temporary cadet dormitories, the expansion of the Gymnasium, the renovation of the Multi-Purpose Training Facility and the upgrade the Academy's electrical infrastructure.
The new firearms range, built at a cost of $5.05 million, is a welcome addition to the Firearms Complex that already includes a 25-metre and a 100- metre indoor range.
Scheduled to open in September 2008, the Food Services building, a $17.1 million project, will comfortably meet the demand for up to 3,450 cadet meals required daily. It will allow for a more efficient preparation and serving of meals than the current aging facility that provides approximatley 2,100 cadet meals daily.
“Depot” Division has been the RCMP's national police training centre since 1885. It is recognized world-wide for its excellence and for its ability to adapt to the ever-changing needs of modern-day policing.
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For further information:
Marie R. Patterson
Communications & Events Management Services
RCMP "Depot" Division
306-780-5707
306-537-1307 (cellular)
Backgrounders
RCMP Academy at Depot Division
History
Located in Regina, Saskatchewan, the RCMP Academy (“Depot” Division) is a national police training centre recognized world-wide for its excellence and for its ability to adapt to the ever-changing needs of modern-day policing.
The Academy is commonly referred to as the “Cradle of the Force”, as it is here that every RCMP member begins his or her career.
“Depot” Division was originally based on a model of a training facility of the Royal Irish Constabulary.
It was established in 1885 on the recommendation of Commissioner A.G. Irvine who had visited a training centre at Phoenix Park, Dublin, called “Depot” in 1880. Prior to its inception, training was the responsibility of each RCMP Division.
It is the oldest Division of the RCMP. Until 1920, it was the headquarters of the North-West Mounted Police and, subsequently, the Royal North-West Mounted Police.
To date, nearly 55,000 members have passed through the Academy en route to postings throughout Canada.
It is located on 470 acres of land and has seventy-five buildings. It has a team of over 698 training and support services employees. Although it offers a variety of police and law enforcement training services, its primary mandate is the RCMP Cadet Training Program.
The RCMP Police Dog Service Training Centre, located in Innisfail, Alberta, is a unit of “Depot” Division. .
Cadet Training Program
The primary mandate of the Academy is to deliver cadet training to meet the human resources needs of the Force.
Its secondary mandate is to deliver and coordinate specialized training programs for in-service training and outside agencies.
Applied Police Sciences is the largest component of training. The APS program is divided into modules built around scenarios. Other components are Police Defensive Tactics, Fitness, Firearms, Police Driving and Drill, Deportment and Tactical. The 24-week training program is based on principles of Community Policing and uses adult-based learning principles.
Upon graduation, cadets are posted to designated training detachments for a six-month Field Coaching Program where they are involved in everyday police duties under the supervision of an experienced RCMP member.
Although cadets do not receive an allowance or salary, the Academy provides their meals and accommodation free of charge.
As the Academy is designated as a post-secondary institution, cadets can qualify for an education credit on their income tax.
Since 1999, an average of 8,500 applicants has written the RCMP entrance exam every year.
Firearms Training Centre
About the program and the facility
Tactical and weapons training are integral parts of the Cadet Training Program. All of the RCMP firearms training and classroom instruction takes place at the Firearms Complex.
The Firearms Complex contains the following:
Two 25-metre indoor ranges with16-stations each used for firearms training
One 100-metre range 16-stations used for firearms training
Three classrooms for firearms-related lecture and instruction
An Armourer Shop with test range, magazine and secure vault storage
Four Firearms Training Simulators (FATS) rooms
Firearms preparation, cleaning and de-contaminations areas
Administrative office space, washroom and shower facilities
Under the close supervision of firearms instructors, cadets receive 64 hours of firearms training including: pistol practice, theory and cleaning (Smith and Wesson 9mm semi-automatic pistol), shotgun practice, theory and cleaning, and rifle theory. They also take part in scenario training in the Firearms Training Simulators.
All three ranges have 16 cubicles per range. This allows the Academy to accommodate half a troop at one time (32 cadets per troop), while the other half are involved in other aspects of the Firearms Training Program.
To graduate from Depot, cadets must achieve the same standards for qualifications on the pistol and shotgun as must the Regular members annually.
History
Firearms training has been an integral part of overall RCMP training since the inception of the force in 1873.
In 1952, the RCMP standardized to the Smith and Wesson .38-caliber revolver, with recruits training at first on a Smith and Wesson K-22 – a .22-caliber revolver – and eventually moving up to the .38 cal pistol before graduating. In 1995, the RCMP adopted the Smith & Wesson 9-mm semi-automatic pistol.
The existing indoor 25-metre range was built in 1972 and dedicated in 1973. Prior to this, revolver shooting was conducted in a range located in the lower level of the existing Self-Defense Gym.
The current 100-metre range was constructed in 1973 with a sand/gravel floor. This was replaced with a cement floor in 1975.
The outdoor 50-metre range relocated to its current location in 1975 from an area west of the Drill Hall and remained in use until the fall of 2005, when it was closed to training, as significant upgrades were required to meet regulations under the new Firearms Act. Plans to refurbish the range are under consideration.
In 1992, the firearms facilities were renovated with the upgrading of the bullet traps, the addition of computerized target systems and a new computerized Firearms Training Simulator (FATS). Originally portable, these systems were installed permanently at the range in 1995.
The Armourer Shop was added to the Firearms Complex in 1995, as was the Chemical Agents and Weapons training facility.
In 2006, the RCMP Academy started to build a second 25-metre indoor range to meet the ever-growing requirements of the Cadet Training Program. The range was officially opened on September 10, 2007.
Fact Sheets
New 25-metre Firearms Range
The new 25-metre indoor firearms range was completed in September 2007 at a cost of $5.05 million.
The new range enables the RCMP Academy to meet the firearms training component of the Cadet Training Program, as a result of an unprecedented increase in the Academy’s cadet population.
There are 16 cubicles in the range. This allows the Academy to accommodate half a troop at one time (32 cadets per troop), while the other half are involved in other aspects of the Firearms Training Program.
Improvements to earlier firearms range designs include: wider stalls for better maneuvering and firearms manipulation, the enhanced use of information technology in the range controls systems and a state-of-the-art bullet recovery trap, designed by Savage Range Systems, which will greatly ease the removal of spent ammunition for recycling.
Food Services Building
“Depot” Division’s existing Food Services Building – Division Mess – is 52 years old and is at the end of its useful life from both an operational and a functional perspective. The current facility serves approximately 2,100 cadet meals daily.
The new Food Services building will provide: o usable space of approximately 3,050 square metres to allow for a more efficient preparation and serving of meals than the current structure; o up to 3,450 cadet meals daily; o an environment that contributes to the health and safety of cadets and staff; and o amenities and décor compatible with the training/learning culture of the Academy.
It will be built at a cost of $17.1 million and is scheduled to open in September 2008.
The new Food Services Building will enable the RCMP Academy to better meet the needs of the Cadet Training Program, as a result of an unprecedented increase in the Academy’s cadet population.
The building was designed by Stantec Architecture of Regina and the construction management contract has been awarded to Dominion Construction Limited.
