Fundraising breakfast to honour Chief White

Posted Feb 16, 2012 By Michelle Nash

---

EMC news -Vanier residents have organized a special fundraising event in honour their outgoing chief of police.

Organized by the Vanier community, the continental breakfast for Chief Vern White on Feb. 24 will raise money for the Boys and Girls Club of Ottawa McCann Clubhouse and Assumption School.

Many in Vanier credit White for making positive changes on their streets. Residents wanted to do something to honour his time as Ottawa's police chief.

Suzanne Valiquet, executive director of Quartier Vanier, said it was only days after the announcement of the chief's appointment to the Senate that she began to receive emails and phone calls from residents asking what they were going to do to thank the chief.

"Everybody had the same thing on their minds," Valiquet said.

In only two short weeks, Quartier Vanier, the Ottawa police and community-led groups helped organize the event.

Vanier was one of the first communities to approach the chief about wanting to say goodbye, according to Central East Insp.Uday Jaswal. He said it was the chief's idea to make the event a fundraiser.

"I think there is a lot of interest across the city to honour the chief, he has had a lot of impact in this city, but the chief has had a special relationship and it was amplified by the residents wanting to do something for him," Jaswal said. "It was important to the chief to help the McCann Clubhouse."

The clubhouse, although situated in Vanier, also serves the east-end community of Overbrook. Assumption School in Vanier will also benefit from the event.

"Assumption School is fundraising for a new playstructure, it made sense to spread the wealth," Valiquet said.

Jaswal said he wasn't surprised by the organizing efforts in the community, adding the credit goes to the residents and Quartier Vanier.

"The chief has had very special relationship with Vanier since his arrival in Ottawa and a lot of residents really responded to his approach to policing and how they could build community leadership amongst themselves," Jaswal said.

According to Valiquet, this is the first time all these partners have come together to organize an event and she said, even under the time constraints, things have gone very well.

Tickets are available at Quartier Vanier by calling 613-745-0040 or through the Ottawa police at 613-236-1222, ext. 5566.




blog comments powered by Disqus