Killam RCMP Detachment’s newest constable couldn’t be more delighted to be starting his career in rural Alberta.

Brett McFarlane has always wanted to be a member of the RCMP. He got his wish when he was accepted into the force last year.

McFarlane has spent the last eight years in the Canadian Armed Forces, lately a member of Edmonton’s PPCLI Infantry Regiment.

He says his training got a bit delayed when he got COVID-19 while at Depot, the RCMP Training Centre, but because many of his fellow classmates were in the same boat, they got to stay in the program and continue after a short delay.

McFarlane was born in Vancouver, but grew up in Langley, BC, in a rural area, where his family had horses, pigs, and goats, and where he lived until he joined the army at age 23.

He says he enjoyed his time in the army, and got to travel the world serving on peace-keeping missions. Some of his training took place in Eastern Europe, and he has very fond memories of his time there, and is very concerned about what’s currently happening in the Ukraine.

McFarlane says his position in Killam really is the community policing position he was hoping for. He says Killam wasn’t actually his first choice for a posting, as he was hoping to get something a little closer to Edmonton, where he and his family were living.

But now that he’s here, he says, “I’m loving where I’m at. I enjoy everyone here at the Detachment and the entire Flagstaff Region has been fantastic.”
He worked his first shift in Killam back on March 6, and says, “I love rural Alberta so far.”

He says what really stands out here is the people. “Coming from Edmonton, it’s quite a difference, with people smiling and waving. I miss it. I grew up in south Langley, and went to a small school; there were only 70 kids in the whole school.

“I really like that aspect of rural living; everyone is friendly and genuine.”

McFarlane’s wife and daughter will be joining him here this week, and the couple are expecting their second child this summer.

McFarlane is training under Cst. Jake Rains, and he says he reached out to Rains while still at depot.

The two will be working together for a six-month period, and McFarlane says he has great respect for Rains and his policing style.

He thinks it’s a huge advantage to come out of Depot and work at a smaller detachment where constables get a taste of everything. “I definitely think I got the best posting out of everyone in my class.

“I’ve spoken to some who went on to large detachments, and they aren’t doing half the things I am able to here.

“I’m grateful to be in the community, with friendly people, and doing this type of policing.

“Here I get to work with every call from start to finish.

“That’s the best part, for me, to get to follow up and see things through.

“I am really fortunate to be here, and I’ve loved every minute so far.”

If you run into Cst. McFarlane, feel free to introduce yourself.

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Leslie Cholowsky
Editor