Cst. Reece MacLeish graduated from RCMP’s Depot this past October, and after three days at home to pack, hopped on a plane from Ottawa to Edmonton on Oct. 26. He worked his first day at the Killam Detachment on Oct. 29.
MacLeish has settled in Hardisty, moving in about a week ago, and he’s busy trying to get everything settled.
“It’s a lot of work. This is my first time setting up a home on my own, it’s my first posting; it’s keeping me busy for now.”
It’s not his first time in Alberta, MacLeish has a brother in Edmonton, and one in BC.
His father was in the Canadian Air Force, and he says the family moved around a lot when he was growing up, so this isn’t his first time living in Alberta.
Besides his dad’s military background, and a cousin who is an RCMP member, MacLeish says what drove him to apply to the RCMP was a lifelong desire to join the police.
“The RCMP gave me the opportunity to do my dream career.” He says he was lucky to get in right away when he applied, which he did after studying business for a couple of years.
MacLeish says while Killam wasn’t his first choice, “I didn’t know about Killam,” working in rural Alberta was.
He says moving from Ottawa is definitely a bit of a culture shock, but it’s a good one. “It’s very peaceful and quiet, there’s no traffic noise.”
He says he’s impressed by the large area the Killam Detachment covers, and he’s excited to be here, because he’s already seen that he’ll get to learn a little about everything while he’s here.
“Policing is always what I wanted to do from a very young age.”
When he’s not working, or putting his household together, MacLeish says he likes to work out. He played baseball, and has even coached a little bit.
During his first six months at the Killam Detachment, he will be working with Cst. Calvin LeBlanc. He knows that LeBlanc coaches basketball, and since they have the same schedule, he’s hoping to see what that’s like.
“I’m learning about what it’s like to live on your own and learning what the job is, and how things are done here.
“We have our busy days and our slower days.” He says when it’s slow, he and Cst. LeBlanc have been travelling through the region, so can get to know the communities.
MacLeish says the other detachment members and staff have been extremely friendly and welcoming. “When I first arrived they greeted me with open arms; that felt like a great start.”
He says everyone’s been super helpful while he’s learning the ropes.
He says there haven’t been any surprises on his shifts so far, “It’s about what I expected.”
He’s enjoying general duty so far, and says there’s a ton to learn, and so many different aspects of policing to look at.
For now, he’s taking it a day at a time, and enjoying the experience. “I’ll see if anything sticks out at me as I learn.”
He says rural residents are living up to their friendly reputations, waving when he drives by, and greeting him when he’s shopping or out and about.
MacLeish says he’s very approachable, so if you see him out, don’t be afraid to introduce yourself.
Leslie Cholowsky
Editor