A St. Albert RCMP officer has earned an important distinction in recognition for her efforts to help local children, act as a role model for youth and in general helping to make the region a better place to live.
Cpl. Laurel Kading is well-known to anyone who is active in schools or community circles in St. Albert and Morinville and her work was not overlooked when it came to award nominations for the Order of Merit of the Police Forces. Kading received the recognition for her community work last week in Ottawa, according to the RCMP.
“On Sept, 10, 2014, at a ceremony at Rideau Hall in Ottawa, His Excellency the Right Honourable David Johnston, Governor General of Canada invested three Alberta RCMP officers into the Order of Merit of the Police Forces in recognition of their contributions to policing and the community,” stated an RCMP press release.
“The contributions of Assistant Commissioner Marlin Degrand, Cpl. Laurel Kading of St. Albert Detachment, and Staff Sgt. Peter Quilty of Red Deer RCMP were recognized.”
According to the RCMP, “Cpl. Kading joined the RCMP in 1985 after earning a bachelor of science degree from the University of Manitoba. Yesterday’s honour stems from her time in Morinville, where she played a strong leadership role in activities such as the Ventures Group, Family Justice Circle, Citizen’s Academy and drug prevention programming.
“Since 2008, she has worked as the Non-Commissioned Officer-in-Charge of Community Policing in St. Albert, where she works with the St. Albert Youth Academy and the Drug Abuse and Awareness (DARE). She is also the detachment’s media liaison.”
“Police work is all about building relationships. That’s what makes the difference,” said Cpl. Kading. “The greatest form of crime prevention is getting to know people.”
Sgt. Carolyn Cameron works with Kading in St. Albert and said the corporal is a true role model. “It’s a complete joy,” she told the Gazette Monday when asked what it’s like to work with Kading.
“Laurel’s quite involved in the community. It comes naturally to her. Working with her, it’s infectious.
“She’s very deserving.”
Assistant Commissioner Marlin Degrand and Staff Sgt. Peter Quilty, both from Alberta, also received awards. Twenty-eight other police officers from the RCMP and law enforcement agencies across Canada were also invested into the order.
