Community LangleyAdvance
Careers
Mountie had two RCMP careers
Tuesday, September 10, 2013
A11
Religion
Carnivals for community Families can find a weekend of fun courtesy of two churches. by Heather Colpitts hcolpitts@langleyadvance.com
Two local churches are helping provide some free fun for the public.
The Willows Community Church
Matthew Claxton/Langley Advance
Wally Lee has now retired after a long career that saw him called back from retirement once before.
A retiring Langley Mountie is leaving the force for the second time. by Matthew Claxton mclaxton@langleyadvance.com
Wally Lee has the medals marking Queen Elizabeth’s gold and diamond jubilees on his RCMP uniform, along with a 30-year long service medal. Yet he didn’t really dream of being a police officer that often while growing up, said the officer who just retired from the Langley RCMP, for the second time in two years. “It wasn’t really an ambition of mine,” Lee said, though he did watch The Forest Rangers on CBC, a show that featured a police officer character. It wasn’t until he was 28 that Lee first joined the force. Since then he has spent a fairly lengthy and varied career in the RCMP, serving in every capacity from plainclothes to guarding diplomats. Lee retired for the first time
in February of 2011. some ways to solve their probWhen he left, he intended lems, and things quieted down to go into a partial retirement, for a bit. driving limos for corporate “You try to tell them, this clients. It was nice and quiet is not a police call, this is a work, Lee said. neighbourhood problem,” said But he got a call from Supt. Lee. Derek Cooke, the head of the In the end, the RCMP won’t Langley RCMP. drag away one neighbour in “Can you come back to cuffs for annoying the folks work?” Cooke asked. over the fence. Lee put his uniform on and Lee didn’t start out as a went back to veteran of the work in combeat, mediating “You try to tell them, munity policing, local disputes. this is not a police handling local He took a issues. rare path into call…” That means the RCMP, Wally Lee doing a lot of starting as work dealing a Special with issues that Constable tend to get the police called, in plainclothes, working in but which aren’t really crimdowntown Vancouver. inal matters. Special Constables are Houses that have frequent essentially set aside before loud parties, or simmering they get their full training arguments between neighin Saskatchewan. As Lee bours are among the common explains it, they are put on issues that Lee handled. duty while they still look like He had one pair of neighregular guys. bours in Aldergrove who had Starting at age 28, Lee did been feuding for some time. plainclothes work for eight He met with them, gave them years, along with some uni-
formed work at YVR, before going to Regina for a modified training regime and becoming a regular member. He was back in Surrey, where he worked on a wide variety of units. He took to the streets as a uniformed general duty officer, did some traffic unit enforcement, then moved over into the photo radar unit until that was killed by legislation. After some work in community policing, he joined protective services in Vancouver, looking after consulates, foreign residences of diplomats, and foreign dignitaries. He finished working as a recruiter for the force. He enjoyed his un-retirement, noting that police work is never the same. You can do an incredibly wide variety of jobs within the force, while at the same time having to be ready to be out doing standard enforcement and emergency response during a crisis, he said. Lee said he’ll probably really retire this time.
On Sept. 14, the third annual Community Carnival takes place on the grounds of RC Garnett Demonstration Elementary, 7069 201st St. from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The event, which attracted about 700 people last year, features carnival games, bouncy castles, face painting, and cake walks as well as hot dogs, hamburgers, and cotton candy. Organizers expect the bulk of the attendance to come from people living in the Willoughby area near the school but the event is open to anyone and there is ample parking. “The purpose of the event is to engage our community through an event that draws us to together and forges authentic relationships,” said Lisa Gunn, speaking for the church. This is an alcohol-free, familybased event that also includes draws and giveaways. Should it rain that Saturday, organizers have plans for the event to move indoors.
Langley Immanuel Christian Reformed Church The Community Festival runs 25 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 15 at the Langley Immanuel Christian Reformed Church, 21713 50th Ave. “This event is focused on building community,” said David Bylenga, the volunteer youth leader. The public is invited to stop by for family-themed fun that includes a bouncy castle, ring toss, and apple bobbing, as well as treats and live music. “The whole event and all of the games are free,” he said. “We will be asking for donations, though, when it comes to the food/barbecue.” “The goal of this event is to draw in members of the local community to come together for an afternoon of games, food, and music,” he said. “By doing this we hope to build connections with the local community in Murrayville and Langley.” Unfortunately, if there is too much rain then the event will be cancelled.
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