Language selection

RCMP Depot Division

News release

RCMP announces 2025 Name the Puppy Contest winners

April 17, 2025 - Innisfail, Alberta
From: RCMP Depot Division

On this page

Content

A german shepherd puppy tilts its’ head to the side.
Thank you to everyone who sent in names for our future police dogs.

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) is thrilled to announce the winners of the 2025 Name the Puppy contest.

The contest ran from February 19 to March 19, and invited kids aged 4 to 14, across Canada to send their name suggestions for the first 13 puppies born at the Police Dog Services Training Centre (PDSTC) in 2025. 

This year, all names had to start with the letter “A”. There were over 10,000 online entries! After a review of all the names, we are pleased to announce this year’s amazing winning entries:

  • Ace – Maxime Bellencourt (Yukon)
  • Argo – Rachael Marche (Newfoundland and Labrador)
  • Arctic – Emmett Campbell (Prince Edward Island)
  • Anouk – Madison Zamrykut (Manitoba)
  • Action – Chance Jerome (Alberta)
  • Agent – Samuel Bailey (Quebec)
  • Atim – Brianne Bell (Saskatchewan)
  • Ash – Quentin Qammaniq (Nunavut)
  • August – Nora Boken (Northwest Territories)
  • Anchor – Elisa Zirtilides (British Columbia)
  • Alfie – Duncan Hansford (Nova Scotia)
  • Adler – Denny Dewar (Ontario)
  • Addy – Paisley Leger (New Brunswick)

This annual contest is an opportunity for community engagement across the country and to foster connection with the younger generation. Kids from every province and territory were encouraged to take part and send in creative names that reflect the important role these dogs will have in their careers as Police Service Dogs.

Each of the 13 winners - one from each province and territory - will receive a laminated 8×10-inch photo of the pup they named, a plush dog named Justice and an RCMP water bottle.

While there can only be 13 winners, names not selected for the contest will be considered for other puppies born during the year. For entries of the same name, a draw determined the winner. 

For those who want a head start thinking of names for next year's contest, all names in 2026 must start with the letter “B”. 

There will also be three public demonstrations taking place at PDSTC in 2025. For full details visit www.rcmp.ca/en/depot/police-dogs

Image gallery

Quotes

Choosing names for our future Police Service Dogs is a very important role. We are thrilled to have kids from across the country help us with this and it is always a highlight to see the submissions start pouring in. From all of us at PDSTC, we’d like to congratulate all winners and thank all participants for taking part in this year’s contest. We appreciate your involvement to help us name future police service dogs of the RCMP, and most of all hope you had fun! 

Inspector Shawn Boutin, Officer in Charge of RCMP Police Dog Services

Related products

Contacts

Inspector Shawn Boutin
Officer in Charge
RCMP Police Dog Service Training Centre
puppy-chiot@rcmp-grc.gc.ca
403-227-3346
Police dogs
@rcmpdepot
RCMP Depot Division
@rcmpdepot

Date modified: