OTTAWA – June 21, 2013 – Today, 27 Aboriginal women and men have graduated from the RCMP Academy, “Depot” Division, in Regina, Saskatchewan, as part of the RCMP’s Aboriginal Pre-cadet Training Program (APTP).
The graduates will soon begin an 8-week assignment where they will work alongside police officers in RCMP detachments near their home communities. The APTP offers Aboriginal Canadians between the ages of 19 and 29 the opportunity to get an inside look at daily police work.
“APTP is part of our on-going commitment to have a workplace representative of the communities we serve,” said Chief Human Resources Officer, Daniel Dubeau. “APTP graduates bring language and cultural skills that will continue to enhance our working relationship with Canada’s Aboriginal communities.”
Once the candidates have completed the program, they are mentored and encouraged to begin the process to become police officers with the RCMP.
"The Aboriginal Pre-cadet Training Program was beneficial in several ways. Not only did it show me what life was like at Depot but also what the RCMP does in my community. The APTP affirmed that my goal was a career with the RCMP." Cadet James Fennama, APTP graduate. Cadet Fennama is currently at the RCMP Academy in the process of becoming an RCMP officer.
Since 1996, 443 candidates have graduated from the program and more than 50 percent went on to apply to the RCMP. Forty-one candidates have gone on to become police officers with the RCMP and 20 are employed in other capacities with the RCMP.
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