Volunteers

“Those who can, do. Those who can do more, volunteer.” (Author Unknown)

Without faithful volunteers, our Community Policing Centre would not be able to provide the level of personal interaction and service required to address the various needs of our neighbourhood. Our volunteers are people from across the Lower Mainland and from a variety of backgrounds who are interested in making a difference in the community. They maintain a high level of professional standards, ethics, and values. You do not have to be a Law Enforcement applicant; you just have to care. Our programming is flexible and fun and will suit most schedules.

“Appreciation is a wonderful thing. It makes what is excellent in others belong to us as well.”  (Voltaire)

The West End-Coal Harbour Community Policing Centre and the Vancouver Police Department values the volunteers that give their time to make our crime prevention programs a success and our community a safer place to work, live, and enjoy. Throughout the year we provide interest-based training opportunities and host events for our volunteers, such as barbecues, awards events, and other special functions. We want you, and in return we want you to be happy.

Why You Should Volunteer

• Gain necessary experience working with law enforcement agencies
• Networking opportunities and building contacts to assist career aspirations
• Gain familiarity of the community and its neighbourhoods
• Build rapport with like-minded people and community organizations
• Unique opportunities available only to volunteers
• A chance to give back to your community

Health Benefits of Volunteering – BC Living

How Volunteers Get Involved

All volunteers are trained in maintaining the Street Front Office, including answering the phone and communicating with people who visit the centre, providing information and referrals, documenting lost/found property, calculating statistics, and logging essential information for non-emergency reports in the Victim Information Services program. After the basic orientation and completion of an office shift with a staff member, you can be trained and/or participate in any of the additional programs and activities:

• Foot Patrol, Pooch Patrol 
• Child Find BC Fingerprinting
• Anti-Graffiti Initiative
• Community Clean-Up
• Presentations
• Outreach Services
• Traffic Projects
• Project 529 Anti-Bike Theft Registrations

Specialized programs, such as Speed Watch or additional Patrol operatives, require customized training which is offered by individuals with extensive skills or by external agencies. Opportunities to be trained in these programs occur approximately three times a year. 

Minimum Volunteering Criteria

WECHCPC volunteers must meet the following minimum requirements:

• Be 18 years of age or older
• Able to pass a VPD Criminal Record Check
• Available to dedicate a minimum of four hours a month to CPC programs and activities
• Converse and write in English
• Comfortable working with the public
• Team Player
• Display professionalism and confidentiality

How To Apply

To become a volunteer, please contact the Programs Manager at info@wechcpc.com to arrange an intake interview at the office at 1295 Davie Street. You will be required to complete a Volunteer Application on the day of the interview so please bring one piece of current photo ID and the contact details for three professional references. Volunteer Applications cannot be picked up on behalf of another party or taken out of the office. All applications are subject to a VPD Criminal Record Check and security clearance. The application process to become a volunteer may take between two and four weeks. We appreciate your patience and understanding.

 “We often take for granted the very things that most deserve our gratitude.” (Cynthia Ozick)

2023 Josie Babiuk Memorial Award for Volunteer of the Year: Colin Smith

The 2023 Volunteer of the Year is Colin Smith.

The Josie Babiuk Memorial Award is given to the person or persons who best exemplifies the spirit of community policing. The award recipient does not have to contribute the most hours in a particular program or have been with the organization for the longest amount of time. This person goes above and beyond, and shows outstanding dedication to the CPC through involvement, commitment, and disposition. 

We met this year’s award recipient just over two years ago. He had recently moved to the Lower Mainland, and began volunteering because he wanted to meet new people, gain experience for an eventual VPD application, and make friends while supporting the community.

Colin soon struck up a friendship with another volunteer. A few months later, he had become one of our go-to patrol trainers, team lead for race route hosts, and was made a keyholder. In 2023, Colin completed bike patrol training. Colin is happy to be involved in all facets of CPC programming; and he now has a pooch patrol partner in hs furry friend, Franky!

Congratulations Colin!

2022 Peter Symons Award of Distinction

The Peter Symons Award of Distinction is given to the person or persons who has dedicated 25 Years of Service to Community Policing in Vancouver. The award recipient can be a volunteer, an employee, or a combination of both. Our very first recipient of the Peter Symons Award of Distinction for 25 Years of Service to Community Policing in Vancouver is … Peter Symons!

When our Community Policing Centre opened in 1997, Peter was a “volunteer” volunteer coordinator. He was initially in charge of four people and they participated in three activities. As time went by, the City provided more funding to Community Policing and Peter was upgraded and held the “official” role as Office Coordinator. In 2003, he retired from the coordinator role but has remained on the volunteer roster ever since.

When we celebrated his 15 years of service in 2012, he joked that he hoped to see another 15 years. It was funny at the time but he is well on his way to do it, because he has been here for another ten years!

25 years is anything is something to be proud of and we really are proud of Peter. This is why we are happy to have an award that will carry on his legacy forever. 

Congratulations Peter!