Month: August 2012

 

Police Constable Robert, “Bobby” Bird of the Wikwemikong Police Service located in the region of Manitoulin Island was commended with the Police Medal of Courage and Bravery at the annual First Nations Chiefs of Police Ceremony in Winnipeg, Manitoba on May 23, 2012.

A native of the Morrisburg/Williamsburg area, Constable Bird is a graduate of the Police Foundations Program at St. Lawrence College in Kingston.

The award was given for Constable Bird’s valiant actions during a domestic assault incident in November of 2010, when he was the first officer on scene to a 911 domestic violence call involving a female who had been stabbed by her common law spouse.

The incident later involved a heated stand-off during which the accused man pointed a firearm directly at the officers. Due to the actions of Bird and the other officers, the incident was resolved without casualty and the man was brought safely into custody.

The Police Medal of Courage and Bravery is one of the highest honors a police officer can receive.

Bird says “I decided in high school (he is a graduate of Seaway District High School) that I wanted to become a police officer.” He recalls the love and support of his grandmother (the late) Delores Mullen during his teenage years growing up in the South Dundas.  

In 2006, at the age of 25, Bird became Security Manager at Rideau Carleton Entertainment Centre in Ottawa, It was in 2009 that he decided it was time to pursue his policing career. 

Applications were made to local city police stations in Ottawa, Cornwall and Brockville and to the Wikwemikong Police Service, which he learned was hiring officer through a policing website.

“I have a close friend who works with the RCMP and polices a First Nations Reserve in Saskatchewan. He highly recommended that I apply to a reserve in Ontario.”

Bird explains that when he looked into the Wikwemikong Police Service more deeply, he learned it was located on Manitoulin Island, the largest fresh water Island in the World.

“Since I enjoy the outdoors and fishing immensely, I thought I would give it a shot in the dark and put in my application. I also have First Nation heritage that goes way back on the Bird side of my family, therefore I thought policing a First Nations  community would be a great experience.”

After completing the interview process, Bird was hired by the Wikwemikong Police Service in January 2010, as a fourth class probationary police constable.

After three months of work as an Auxiliary Constable, he was sent to the Ontario government mandated Police Constable Training College in Aylmer, Ontario. While at the college, he was selected by the College Instructors and Sergeants to be a Police Ethnic and Cultural Exchange Mentor. He graduated from the Ontario Police College in July of 2010, and returned to Manitoulin Island.

It was just four months after his graduation, in November 2010, the he was faced with the incident that led to the recently awarded Medal of Bravery.

Constable Bird explains that the Wikwemikong Police Service is a stand alone First Nations Police Service.

“At one time the Wikwemikong Reserve was policed by the RCMP, then by the OPP, then in 1994, the Reserve, supported by the OPP, decided to become their own, stand along, police service.”

The Wikwemikong Police Service has a staff of 24 people (most of whom are First Nations officers). Bird is one of two officers who are not First Nations.

Constable Bird will complete his two year contract with the Wikwemikong Police Service this December.

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The excitement is mounting as the South Mountain Fair is now just around the corner from August 16-19.

“This is our 120th anniversary, so this is a special year for us,” says Diane Fawcett, a member of the board of directors. “Every year we try to put together the best show that we can.”

And what the South Mountain Fair Board ends up with each year, is a huge well-rounded country fair that has something to offer for all ages and all interests.

Fawcett is extremely excited about this year’s music venue which she looks after. “We have Marty Stuart and his Fabulous Superlatives headlining Sunday and on Saturday, sure to please everyone is Jason Blaine and Landmark.”

“Freddy Vette is on Friday night. He does 50s-60s and he is amazing,” says Fawcett.

The Freddy Vette show at 8 p.m. on Friday, August 17, follows the hugely popular Demolition Derby which roars into action at 7 p.m.

The Fair opens Thursday afternoon at 4 p.m. with the opening of the midway. The fair’s opening ceremonies will take place at 6:30 p.m. and the first big event is the Horse Pull at 7 p.m.

“Our midway is Crown Amusements and they run a great show, really clean,” says Fawcett.

Fawcett also explains that from some new events tried last year, the committee decided to return the Farmer’s Olympics. “It was a hoot. We had 17 teams. The audience had a great time along with the participants.”

The farmer’s Olympics includes contests all related to farm practises like hay bale throwing, running through tires, wheelbarrow racing and so on.

Fawcett says there are also a few new events at this year’s Kid’s Mountain and she urges families to come out and have some fun.

The fair features one price admission of $20 per person (daily) or $50 per person for the weekend, and that gives the holder unlimited midway rides, admission to all of the concerts and dances (age of majority), the kids entertainment, and all of the agricultural shows and exhibits.

Fawcett says that people have been really receptive to the all inclusive pricing, because it really is a bargain.

The fair is a huge event which receives great support from everyone in the community, not just the people who attend but those who sponsor it and various events and prizes.

“The fair would not be able to continue at the level it does, if it weren’t for the support of the community,” says Fawcett. “We have Agri-Business sponsors, private business sponsors and organizations and people in general who support events.”

“This is a big year for us, and hopefully we have put together a big show that everyone will enjoy.”

As a bonus, the fair offers free camping. “It’s rough camping, but people can come, purchase their $50 weekend pass and camp. They don’t have to leave a concert and drive and that’s great for them and less worry for us.”

“We also have plenty of nearby parking for everyone.”

Fawcett explains that each year following the close of the fair, the committee of 25-30 directors takes a couple of months off. “We usually have our annual meeting in early December, and then come January we start again with new directors and new sponsors.”

This year’s title sponsors are Scotiabank and O’Farrell Financial Services Inc.

For a complete list of all of the South Mountain Fair events, everything from events for kids, to the agricultural shows, to the concerts and dances go to www.southmountainfair.ca

This year’s grand prize give-a-way offers the winner a choice of four grand prizes sponsored by Mike Dean’s Supper Food stores, Sandy Row Restaurant  & Golf Course, Winchester BMR and Byers Limousine and Stretch Suv’s.

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