Remarks by
The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M.
Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba
WPS GRADUATION CEREMONY – RECRUIT CLASS #171
RBC Convention Centre
Friday, June 6, 2025, 1:00 p.m.
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Elder Mike Calder, Minister Wiebe, Chief Justice Rolston, Mayor Gillingham, Chief Bowers, members and friends of the Winnipeg Police Service, it is a pleasure to join you on this milestone day for the members of Recruit Class 171.
We have gathered today in the heart of Treaty One land and the heartland of the Red River Metis to celebrate a group of graduates who have made a commitment to this community.
These new members of the Winnipeg Police Service will serve in a province that is located on the treaty territories and ancestral lands of the Anishinaabe, Dakota, Dene and Cree nations and the homeland of the Red River Métis; and that includes northern lands that were and are the ancestral lands of the Inuit.
As Manitobans and as Canadians we remain committed to working in partnership with First Nations, Metis and Inuit people in the spirit of truth, reconciliation and collaboration. And we are all heartened to learn that during this provincial fire emergency, members of the Winnipeg Police Service are working with communities to protect thousands of northern fire evacuees in our city.
As Lieutenant Governor, I have had the opportunity to attend several graduation ceremonies in the last two and a half years for new Winnipeg Police Service recruit classes.
It’s a special pleasure to share this day with Chief Bowers, at the first police graduation of his time at the helm.
At graduations of all kinds, we celebrate change and we celebrate continuity.
Year in and year out, the faces change at ceremonies like this. New people move up the ranks and become leaders. And the fresh-faced graduates of previous years become the experienced mentors.
But what doesn’t change is the commitment that comes from wearing the police uniform and taking the oath to serve.
Each of you, in following the path to become members of the Winnipeg Police Service, has accepted a great challenge. You’ve had to absorb a great deal of learning in your classroom and hands-on training. And you are now preparing to begin a career in which the learning will continue.
As the legal, social and technological environment changes in the future, your job will continue to evolve and you’ll continue processing and absorbing information.
But what won’t change is that your community will continue to need your service and it will continue to need your commitment to human dignity and the rights of all people to live in safety and freedom.
I thank each of you for taking on this commitment. And I thank all of those who have supported you and worked as your teachers and mentors.
Thank you. Merci. Meegwich. Shalom
