News release

Port Saunders RCMP officer and Port au Choix student attend National Youth Leadership Workshop

March 23, 2026 - Port Saunders, Newfoundland and Labrador
From: Newfoundland and Labrador RCMP

Content

A Port au Choix high school student recently attended the RCMP National Youth Leadership Workshop in Regina, Saskatchewan, accompanied by mentor from the Port Saunders RCMP detachment. The workshop, which brings together 13 Indigenous youth from across Canada, is designed to support these young community leaders as they work to make their hometowns safer. 

From March 9-15, Landon Gaslard joined Constable Braden Clarke at Depot, the RCMP’s training facility in Regina. The Grade 10 student took part in drill class, the Police Fitness Assessment and classroom activities, enjoying life at Depot and some of the daily activities of cadets. 

During the workshop, Landon and his fellow participants were also asked to develop their own Community Action Plan, addressing a youth crime or victimization issue in their community. 

Concerned that youths might be experiencing isolation, mental health challenges and other poor social and health outcomes without opportunities to get outside, come together and play, Landon created the Let’s Play Program. The objective is to create opportunities to participate in sports like ball hockey, volleyball and basketball, and fun tournaments to bring young people together to socialize and have fun — and improve physical and mental health, and communication and social skills in the process. 

Back home on the Northern Peninsula, Landon and Cst. Clarke will continue to work together to implement the plan. The Port au Choix teen is also planning a career in law enforcement with the RCMP. 

The RCMP has been hosting Youth Leadership Workshops since 2011, to help build leadership skills and enable young Canadians to make a difference in their communities, foster positive relationships between police officers and youth and raise awareness around youth crime and victimization issues. 

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