In Abbotsford we’re fortunate to have a municipal police service that goes beyond its regular duties to make our city safer and stronger by offering additional crime prevention and outreach programming. This exemplary level of service is made possible through the voluntary support they receive from our community.
Created as a charity in 2005, the Abbotsford Police Foundation (APF) has allowed the Abbotsford Police Department (AbbyPD) to access the resources needed to fund initiatives not included in its operating budget. These include family-friendly community events like AbbyPD’s Car Meet and Movie Night, as well as the Battle of the Badges hockey game against the Abbotsford Fire Rescue Service. AbbyPD’s popular victim services dog Cheddar is also funded through AFP donations.
On Oct. 8, City Council attended APF’s annual Crime is Toast breakfast fundraiser. During his remarks, Mayor Siemens had the opportunity to thank the AbbyPD, APF and their supporters for their commitment to our community and congratulated the APF on reaching the two-decade mark.
Twenty years is a remarkable milestone, and it truly speaks to the positive and close relationship our community and police department have built together. We’re particularly proud of the efforts AbbyPD makes to connect with our younger residents.
This year the APF helped fund a number of youth-focused programs, including AbbyPD’s Junior Police Academy, Mentoring Program, “Empower our Youth” seminar, and City Basketball Tournament. These initiatives all involve AbbyPD members positively engaging with young people and encouraging them to live healthy, community-minded lifestyles. Next year, AbbyPD will be launching its new weeklong Youth Leadership Program, which aims to provide local high school students with opportunities to develop important life skills at a pivotal time in their lives. The decisions that young people make now, good or bad, can change the course of their entire life. By serving as positive role models and leading by example, our AbbyPD officers can play an important part in helping them to follow a positive path toward their future.
All of these programs, funded by APF donations, are an investment not only in our youth, but in the future of our community. We’d like to express our gratitude to all the donors, sponsors and fundraisers for supporting the work of the APF over the last 20 years, and to the AbbyPD members who donate their time to participate in these important programs. We are extremely proud of their ongoing engagement in both official duties and community initiatives, all of which reflect their commitment to their mission, to make Abbotsford the safest city in BC.
Abbotsford City Council