Youth in Policing grads honoured in Oshawa (virtually) by Durham Police

Durham Regional Police Service’s Youth in Policing (YIP) celebrated the end of the 2021 Summer Initiative last month with a virtual graduation of 64 students.

Graduates were given customized graduation kits that included a graduation lawn sign, graduation cap, mug, t-shirt, balloons and other items, helping the students feel “connected” during the pandemic.

The graduation began with a live-streamed bagpipe performance by Durham Police piper Kerry Buker, followed by opening remarks from Chief Todd Rollauer. Representatives from the six YIP teams also spoke about each of their major events: Operation GIVE; Hearth Place Cancer Support Centre Fundraiser; Ripple Effect Youth Forum; Junior YIP Leadership camp; GetUP and CAN Conference; and Program Media and Graduation.

There was also an award ceremony, recognizing valedictorians (Alya, Zara, and Samaritan), the Future Aces Character Award (Jayant and Ana), the UNITED Award (Zakhar) and the YIP Award (Kyle).

More than 100 students and their families participated in the graduation ceremony and Chief Rollauer noted that for many of the students, the graduation was a “major milestone,” and the YIP Initiative “is a testament that today’s youth are the leaders of tomorrow.”