Hundreds of Kids Team Up with Peel Police for the Thrill of the Catch

Hundreds of children ages ranging from 5 to 15 years of age went on a fishing trip today with Peel Regional Police employees.  

The event was held at Glen Haffy Conservation area as part of an event called Kids, Cops and Canadian Tire Fishing Day which saw young people team up with Police and Prisoner Escort Officers , Cadets, and Youth in Policing Initiative (YIPI) students.

The event was initiated in 2003 by Fishing Forever, a non-profit organization that expanded by introducing the Kids, Cops and Canadian Tire Fishing Day programs as a way for parents and other adults to establish productive and healthy relationships with children and interact positively with local police.

Fishing is one of the few activities that a child can outperform an adult. This can build a child’s confidence and self-esteem while providing them with new skills. It’s also a great way to get outdoors, relax and bond with family and friends and in this case for young people and their families to engage with police employees.

For Sergeant Tim Vanbokhorst this event has always been a highlight in the 10 plus years that he has been participating. “The Kids, Cops and Canadian Tire Fishing Day is the perfect opportunity for officers to interact with kids in a down to earth and laid back setting” said Vanbokhorst.  He also went on to say, “Being able to provide that moment when the child sees you for more than a uniform is such a rewarding feeling. For a lot of the kids, this is an experience that they normally would not have so I am glad we were able to make this happen.”

So if you’re trying to think of something fun to do with your kids while getting to know your local police officers consider grabbing your fishing rod and heading to the lake for a Kids, Cops and Canadian Tire fishing day event.

Check out our community calendar to see more community events Peel Regional Police are involved in.