Pictured left to right, Sgt Larry MCDONALD, Wood Buffalo RCMP NCO i/c Indigenous Liaison Unit, Wood Buffalo Wellness Society Executive Director Jo-Anne Packham and Wood Buffalo RCMP Cst. Gerard BURKE
RCMP Deliver Refurbished Bicycles to Supportive Housing Residents in Fort McMurray
FORT McMURRAY, AB. — Wood Buffalo RCMP recently stepped in to help residents of the Tawaw supportive housing program, answering a call not for service, but for bicycles.
Earlier this spring, the Wood Buffalo Wellness Society reached out to local Mounties for assistance in finding used bicycles for residents in need of reliable transportation. Officers with the Indigenous Liaison Unit, including Sgt. Larry McDonald, Cpl. Jamie Budgell, and Const. Gerard Burke, responded by teaming up with the Fort McMurray SPCA and the Rotary Club of Fort McMurray Oil Sands.
Together, they secured two refurbished bicycles, which were officially presented to Jo-Anne Packham, executive director of the Wood Buffalo Wellness Society, on June 6. The bikes will be used by residents of the Tawaw program, which provides supportive housing for vulnerable community members.
While policing is often associated with enforcement, RCMP say this initiative highlights their broader commitment to community involvement and support. “Building working relationships in the community is a policing priority for Wood Buffalo RCMP,” said Chief Superintendent Mark Hancock. “Great things happen when we work together.”
The donation reflects the RCMP’s ongoing effort to collaborate with local organizations across the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo, supporting initiatives that improve the lives of residents beyond public safety.
Comments