Remarks by
The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M.
Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba
WINNIPEG POLICE SERVICE DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARDS
My Church Winnipeg, 955 Wilkes Avenue
Wednesday, May 17, 2023
(please check against delivery)
Fellow Manitobans, I am delighted to join you for this celebration of public service.
It is my privilege to acknowledge that we are gathered here on Treaty One land and in the heartland of the Red River Metis. I acknowledge that the province we love and that I represent as Lieutenant Governor is the present-day home of the Anishinaabe, Cree, Dakota, Dene, Inuit and Red River Metis peoples.
We acknowledge northern Manitoba includes lands that were, and are, the ancestral lands of the Inuit.
Together, we strive to advance understanding, healing and reconciliation and work as partners for a better future.
As we envision the province and the nation we want to live in, most of us think of strong communities that are safe for all, where all members are treated with dignity, compassion and professionalism.
That’s the kind of Canada, Manitoba and Winnipeg that I believe in, and it’s also part of the statement of values and beliefs of the Winnipeg Police Service.
Bringing that to life, in the difficult environment faced by police, requires a strong personal commitment to excellence.
It requires the kind of dedicated, long-term exemplary service that is being recognized today.
Today’s award recipients have collectively served for hundreds of years – night and day, on holidays and weekends, during blizzards and storms. They have faced the unknown, run toward the danger, provided leadership and learning.
And they have done so in times of continual change in their profession and in society at large.
Today, we know more about the complex and interconnected social, historical, economic and even neurological factors at play in public safety and order, and we know that the technology of law breaking is continually evolving – from sophisticated cyber-crimes to increasingly dangerous and addictive drugs.
These Exemplary Service Medals, a part of the Canada’s Honours system, recognize 20 years of professionalism, learning and courage amid these ever-changing challenges.
To all of today’s award recipients, thank you for dedicating your careers to the safety of your community. This city and this province are better for your service to others.
Merci… Meegwich.
