On June 6, The Shield Journal awarded the first of its 2022 bi-annual Community Safety Grants to the Rideau Lakes Fire Department (RLFD) after a catastrophic fire destroyed their station in Portland, Ont. On Dec. 21, 2021, RLFD Chief Scott Granahan was at home when he received an alert in the late afternoon from the…
Last updated on March 25th, 2022
When a person is struggling with their mental health, even one small gesture of care and kindness can make all the difference in the world. Just the knowledge that there is one person out there who truly cares can give a person in crisis the motivation they need to begin walking the road toward healing.…
Canada has one of the highest education rates in the world. Despite this, one in six Canadians struggle with everyday reading and writing. This statistic climbs higher still when you examine literacy rates inside Canadian penitentiaries. According to a fact sheet by The Literacy and Policing Project, 79 per cent of offenders entering Canadian correctional…
As the substance abuse crisis continues to rage across Canada, correctional institutions across the country are feeling the strain. According to a 2020 report by Dalhousie University, opioid-related deaths inside correctional facilities are on a steady incline. In 2017 alone, there were 70 overdoses inside Canadian prisons. A 2016 report by CMAJ Open found that…
Last updated on December 21st, 2021
It has been an unprecedented year for paramedics and other emergency medical personnel. Not only are paramedics tasked with keeping up with the demanding tasks required of their jobs on a day-to-day basis, but they are also working tirelessly to keep our communities safe during a global pandemic. Perhaps no one understands this struggle more…
Last updated on December 21st, 2021
On Dec. 17, 2020, Hastings-Quinte paramedic Graham Christie signed off for the final time after 50 years of dedicated service to the emergency medical community. “4363, 79242 signing off.” After a brief pause, the dispatcher’s voice came over the radio. “Paramedic Graham Christie, today we celebrate your life dedication to the paramedic profession with your…
Last updated on March 21st, 2022
When 26-year-old Kimberly Tennant first applied to the Police Foundations program at St. Lawrence College, job stability was at the top of her mind. At the time, she planned on working in border services or private security; however, almost two years later, Tennant is now on her way to graduation and says her direction has…
Last updated on November 24th, 2021
On Aug. 24, The Shield Journal awarded its first Community Safety Grant to the Lanark Highlands Fire Department (LHFD) in the Township of Lanark Highlands, ON. The Department was awarded just over $3,000 to purchase a brand new Galaxy GX2 Automated Test System. This unit is used to detect the presence of Carbon monoxide (CO),…
