(Thunder Bay, ON) – Four Nishnawbe Aski Police Service officers received the King Charles III Coronation commemorative medals for outstanding community service work for delivering drug prevention and awareness programming to students across NAPS’ 34 communities.
Members of the NAPS Community Resource Team helped develop and deliver DARE (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) programming. The program features a series of police officer-led classroom lessons that teach children, from Kindergarten to Grade 12, about resisting peer pressure while living productive drug, alcohol, and violence-free lives.
The program aims to provide students with constructive information so they can make informed life choices. NAPS’s DARE programming has been regularly requested by the First Nation and school leadership of the communities we police.
The community service these officers provide is credited with making significant and positive impacts on the lives of people in the Nishnawbe Aski Nation.
Receiving the King Charles III Coronation commemorative medals are:
Deputy Chief of Police Brad Duce
Sgt. Robert MacPhail
Cst. Mason Morriseau
Cst. Miles Orakwelu
BACKGROUND
In April 2024 DARE Canada was invited by the Governor General Honours Secretariat Chancellory of Honours to partner in the Coronation Medal Program to honour the Coronation of King Charles III.
A nomination committee was formed and a list of nominations was examined through a very focused lens. It is the pleasure of Chief Armstrong to advise that four (4) members of Nishnawbe Aski Police Service were nominated to receive this honour.
QUOTES
“It is an honour for our members to be recognized by DARE for the work they do with youth in our communities. We are very proud of these officers for their ongoing contributions to both the DARE program and the communities we serve in the Nishnawbe Aski Nation.”
– NAPS Chief of Police, Terry Armstrong
“DARE empowers youth with the knowledge and confidence to make safe, healthy choices and resist the pressures of drug and alcohol use. I am truly grateful to receive this medal, as it reflects the shared commitment to protecting youth in our communities through education and prevention. This medal serves as a reminder that the work we're doing really does make a difference in the communities we serve.”
– Cst. Mason Morriseau
“Community policing fosters trust and collaboration between NAPS and NAN communities, creating a safer and more unified region. Programs like DARE empower NAN youth to make informed, safe choices and avoid substance misuse.
“It is a tremendous privilege to be awarded King Charles III's Coronation Medal, as it signifies heartfelt gratitude and acknowledgment of one's commitment and contributions. Thank you.”
– Cst. Miles Orakwelu