News release

Volunteers are the backbone of community policing

February 3, 2026 - Nanaimo, British Columbia
From: Nanaimo RCMP

Content

Volunteers are the backbone of community policing—they strengthen connections, expand the RCMP’s ability to educate and engage the public, and help create safer neighborhoods. Let’s look at four such individuals who are a big part of the Nanaimo RCMP Community Policing Section.

Peter

• Spent 35 years in the coffee industry.
• Lived the Canadian weather: upgrade path from Winnipeg, to Vancouver, to Victoria and then Nanaimo.
• Moved to Nanaimo in 2014 once the kids left home 
• Worked five years in luxury autos
• Met RCMP Community Volunteers through pickleball, started volunteering in 2025.
• Still hasn’t decided what he wants to do when he “grows up”

Alistair

• Born in Montréal 
• Spent 16 years with Hostelling International Canada as CEO
• Came out of retirement for a two‑year stint as Executive Director of Nanaimo Hospice
• Has been volunteering for five years and enjoys pickleball, gardening, and from time to time, beating R/Cst O’Brien at golf

Kane

• Traveled the with the Canadian Armed Forces.
• Spent six years with NATO in Germany, where he also met his wife, Elvira—45 years and counting.
• Self professed techie with computers
• Moved to Nanaimo in 1999 to retire—and has been volunteering ever since.
• 11 years with Nanaimo RCMP Community Police 
• Proud papa of 4 dogs and 2 cats

CY

• Has lived in Nanaimo since 1989 with his wife and 4 kids
• Retired a few years back from the hospitality industry 
• Volunteered with Nanaimo Family Life and CP for several years
•  When not volunteering, he can be found on the pickleball ball court or trying his hand at new recipes

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