News release
Auxiliary members deployed for the first time
April 17, 2026
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Kelowna, British Columbia
From: Kelowna RCMP
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The Kelowna RCMP Auxiliary program hit a milestone late last week as two of the new 14 members were deployed for the first time since the program began.
Doug McWilliams and Alex Schrenk are two volunteers who recently graduated from the Tier 1 program and became the first two members to participate in an RCMP community event. On Thursday morning they appeared at the Emergency Service impaired driving simulation at OKM high school, assisting police and EHS during the outside demonstration, then moved inside the school to talk to students about a possible career with the RCMP.
This isn’t the first time Doug has been a member of the RCMP’s Auxiliary program. He was a member from 1994-1999 but does admit there have been some changes since he last participated, “The program has changed tremendously since that point in time. I’ve learned a lot through the new process and met a lot of great people.”
Regardless if it’s 1996 or 2026, Doug says the Auxiliary program is an important one for the City of Kelowna, “It’s a fantastic way to give back to the community, it’s neighbours serving neighbours and about working with the RCMP and local service members to make our community safer. This is a way to give back to the city which is growing and developing and needs the support.”
“Despite it being 30 odd years ago, the experiences bring back a lot of memories doing events like the one at OKM. Our position as an Auxiliary members has been described as the ‘ultimate volunteer,’ and it’s very rewarding to attend these events. We all look forward to getting more involved and I highly recommend the Auxiliary program to anyone looking to get into law enforcement.”
One of those people with aspirations of a career in policing also took part at OKM last week. Alex is one of the youngest members of the Auxiliary program and has always had a goal of getting into law enforcement. He believes this program is very valuable to chase that dream, “This is a great way to get a foot in the door of law enforcement. I’ve always had the drive to help people which led me to the Auxiliary program in the first place. I’m also a firefighter in Lake Country and help with Lake Country Community Policing because I want to be able to give back.”
When speaking to Alex, he has a very clear career path, “My end goal is to get to Depot.”
The event at OKM is the first of many appearances scheduled for the Auxiliary members. They will continue to be part of various events including the Okanagan Provincial Master Swim Club championship and the Vaisakhi festivities within the next week.
To become an Auxiliary volunteer, a person must first attend a recruiting information session, then submit an application. Following that process, applicants will be interviewed, put through fitness testing, and then receive training both in the classroom and in the field.
What is the RCMP Auxiliary Program?
The Auxiliary Program was introduced in 1963 to enhance community policing and crime prevention initiatives. Auxiliaries give their time to help keep our communities safe, and the RCMP values these volunteers greatly and considers them a vital part of the organization.
Learn more about becoming an RCMP Auxiliary volunteer visit Auxiliary Program | Royal Canadian Mounted Police or email e_kelowna_auxiliary@rcmp-grc.gc.ca.
