CORNWALL, Ontario – Dan Parkinson, Chief of the Cornwall Community Police Service (CCPS) will be celebrating his retirement on Nov. 15 at the Best Western in Cornwall. He has chosen that his party be open to the public and that part of ticket sales go to support Cornwall’s Boys & Girls Club.
Parkinson has been a long-time believer in youth outreach, which is also a part of the CCPS Crime Prevention strategy.
“The sooner you reach out to youth the sooner you can affect their trajectory and keep them out of the formal justice system,” Parkinson said. “The evidence is in that in the development of children there are three distinct opportunities to interject into a child’s life, when they’re 0-6, 7-12 and 13-18.”
CCPS has started and maintained programs targeted at youth outreach including their annual Christmas Street Hockey Tournament, Bikes & Badges, and Cops & Kids Fishing Day.
Part of this outreach has included work with the Boys & Girls Club.
“CCPS has worked collaboratively with the Boys & Girls Club at every opportunity to expose kids to a safe environment and keep them out of the justice system,” said Parkinson.
Boys & Girls Club Jacquie Richards credits Chief Parkinson with helping to bring the organization to Cornwall.
“The Chief played a key role in bringing a BGC to Cornwall,” she said. “Early on he recognized the need for our youth to have a BGC. He is a BGC Ambassador and truly believes in the potential of local youth and the impact BGC can have on the social fabric of our community. He recently was recognized as a Honorary Member of the Boys & Girls Club for his contributions towards our BGC story. He is a well-known face to both kids and staff at 506 Clubhouse. We will miss him!”
Tickets for the event are $40, $25 of which will go to the Boys & Girls Club of Cornwall. In addition, guests are invited to make direct donations to the club.
Tickets for the event are available at the Boys & Girls Club clubhouse at 506 First St. E and on Eventbrite.
