Positive ticket program launches for kids in Bonnyville

Cst. Megan Letang and Victoria Bird, the fitness and recreation manager from the C2, pose with the positive tickets that kids will receive when RCMP see them wearing their helmets while bike riding. Photo submitted by the Bonnyville RCMP. 

Bonnyville kids might be coming home to a ticket from the RCMP – but it’s nothing to fear.

The Bonnyville mounties have started a positive ticket program where members will give tickets to children who are found following the law, especially when wearing a helmet while riding their bikes, scooters, and skateboards this summer.

Cst. Megan Letang came up with the idea for the detachment from one of her superiors.

“There was a little boy in Glendon who did something really positive, so I asked S/Sgt. Sarah [Parke] if there was anything we could do. She actually told me that they used to do it back in Lac La Biche when she was a constable.

“I thought that it was a really good idea and that we should implement it here,” said Cst. Letang.

The program began June 1 and will wrap up when school starts.

The ticket can be used at the Centennial Centre for a free turn on the climbing wall.

“We’re hoping it promotes safety, obviously, and health and fitness and to get them into the C2 to do some fun activities,” said Cst. Letang.

“I think that kids look at us in a really positive way. So the fact that we’re taking time out of our busy days to stop and interact with them in a positive way just reinforces that idea.”

Sgt. Kim Hillier spoke proudly of Letang’s work with community outreach and the positive ticket program.

“We want them to have positive interactions with police because you never know when we’re going to be involved in someone’s life. Whether it’s at the scene of an accident or something at home,” said Hillier.

“Secondly, we want them to know that just because we’re approaching them, it’s not a scary situation. We want them to know that following the law and being safe is a good thing.”