'R.E.A.D. with the RCMP' building bridges through books
By Meagan Massad
Children and youth
Constable Cheri-Lee Smith visits the Leduc Public Library in Alberta to connect with youngsters in her community and foster a love of reading.
Image by RCMP
July 18, 2024
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In partnership with the Leduc Public Library, Alberta's Leduc detachment is connecting with the community while fostering a love of reading. The R.E.A.D. with the RCMP program sees RCMP members read children's books and offer educational presentations to young people and their parents.
Constable Cheri-Lee Smith, an officer in the Community Policing Unit, launched the program with a view to engage children and youth during the pandemic. Because restrictions limited in-person contact, Smith began recording videos where she would read children's books in a sound booth, in front of a green screen. She partnered with the library to share the videos with nearby schools, and encouraged other members to join her.
"The library selects the books we read," says Smith. "We always try to follow lessons like learning how to share, how to be brave, and about helping your peers. I remember one of the more lighthearted books where the characters were marching. So, I got up and marched with the kids, teaching them the Mountie march of swinging your opposite arm with your foot."
The program is now its third year and fully operational, with in-person sessions taking place monthly. It allows children to get to know their local police officers and learn about their role in the community. R.E.A.D. with the RCMP has garnered support from partners and volunteers in the area, who have brought in characters like Paw Patrol's Marshall, the fire-fighting pup, and Chase, the police dog. The program has also invited paramedics as a way to highlight different community helpers.
"This program has had a large impact on the community. I have had families tell me that their children get excited to go to the library to hear Cheri-Lee read. It is a great program for the library to help us encourage literacy and build relationships with the RCMP and the special guests Cheri-Lee has brought with her," says Rhonda Campbell, youth services coordinator at the Leduc Public Library.
Through the power of storytelling, the RCMP and Leduc Public Library are paving the way for a brighter, more connected community.
