April 30, 2012 – Port-au-Prince, Haiti – After serving on the UN mission in Haiti during the January 2010 earthquake, “A” Division (Ottawa) RCMP Corporal (Cpl.) Christine Briand was in Port-au-Prince yesterday to see her dreams of rebuilding the Enfant-Jésus de Prague orphanage come true.
On April 29, Cpl. Briand and her colleague, Cpl. Sherley Goodgie attended an inauguration ceremony for the newly rebuilt and greatly expanded orphanage and had the chance to see the smiles on the faces of the nearly 40 children who live there.
Cpl. Briand and another colleague, Staff Sergeant (S/Sgt.) Stéphane St-Jacques, were instrumental in launching a fundraiser in March 2010 to rebuild the orphanage, which was almost completely destroyed during the earthquake.
Their efforts raised almost $90,000 and sparked another fundraiser by the city of Langford, BC, which gathered more than $200,000 from its businesses and citizens.
The funding enabled the construction of a whole new compound for the orphanage with a main residence, dormitories, small apartments, chapel, kitchen, dining hall and playground. A wall was also built around the facility for security purposes. The orphanage can now accommodate up to 50 children and is self sufficient, with a solar panel for electricity and its own water system. It also pays for the children’s tuition fees and food.
“I am absolutely overwhelmed by the generosity and unwavering commitment of those who have supported this endeavour,” remarked Cpl. Briand. “Because of you, the children and the sisters not only have a new home, but a place of comfort and security, education and faith, and above all, an opportunity to rebuild their lives. I thank each person, partner and agency who supported us, especially the Langford Team Haiti, and my coworkers and fundraising supporters from the RCMP and the UN.”
The inauguration ceremony was organized by Langford city officials in collaboration with Cpl. Briand. UN Police Commissioner Marc Tardif (RCMP), Langford Mayor Stewart Young and Ricardo Michel, a local orphanage committee member, spoke at the ceremony, followed by a blessing and a tour of the facility.
The event also included a dedication to Chief Superintendent Doug Coates and Sgt. Mark Gallagher, two RCMP members who regularly helped out at the orphanage but tragically perished in the earthquake. Luc Coates and Heather Gallagher also attended the ceremony to honour their fathers’ memories.
“I am very proud of Christine, Stéphane and Sherley for all the work they have done to support the orphanage in Haiti,” said Assistant Commissioner Francois Bidal, Commanding Officer, “A” Division. “I want to thank them and all RCMP employees who supported their cause over the past two years. Your efforts have truly made a difference for these children who have so little.”
RCMP members and other Canadian police officers working in Haiti for the UN have supported the orphanage since 2008, when S/Sgt. St-Jacques met one of the nuns who runs it and saw the desperate conditions they lived in.
Since then, Canadian police have regularly provided food, clothing, and paid for schooling for approximately 40 orphans. The orphanage is run by two elderly nuns, as well as one of the former orphans.
“A” Division RCMP members continue to hold fundraisers throughout the year to cover the orphanage’s ongoing costs, especially food and tuition fees.
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Please contact RCMP “A” Division Media Relations: 613-993-9902. Photos of the inauguration ceremony will be available upon request.
