50th anniversary of the Vancouver Police foundation

It is the 50th anniversary of the Vancouver Police Foundation. This organization was founded in 1976 by concerned citizens to fund the Vancouver Police Department's community engagement and public safety programs. These are things that fall outside of the regular operating budget. And a pillar of the foundation is the cadet program. Joining us now is Francesa Chen. She is a cadet. And Shelley Sainsbury, Executive Director of the Vancouver Police Foundation. Thank you to both for joining us

thank you for having us

okay Francesca I want to start with you what is the cadet program and what does it mean for you

Hi, Robin. Thank you so much for the kind introduction about the cadet program. So initially, when I saw the cadet program, it was all of it was just a school of poster that was attached to a school wall. And so when I read the poster, I was immediately interested and intrigued by the cadet program. I want to explore more. And so the reason why I want to join the cadet program was to push myself to grow academically. beyond my comfort zone, build strong leadership skills, and get involved in something that is much bigger than myself. This program, it brings youth together from secondary schools across Greater Vancouver to take part in everyday activities from weekly Saturday sessions to outdoor hikes, overnight camps, and community events. And seeing the structure, I knew it would be a place where I could challenge myself to step up, which was my ultimate goal in joining the VPD Cadet Program, whether through public speaking, physical training, or working as a team in a team environment. And ultimately, I wanted to join because I wish to surround myself with diverse, like-minded peers who share this commitment of self-improvement and giving back to my community, which I ultimately found within the cadet program, as well as so much more.

Shelley, why is this a significant pillar in the program, and how does it help young people?

Well, thanks again for letting us talk about this amazing program. You know, the cadets really is a marquee program funded by us. It started in 2014 and they're in class 13 right now. And it's really about the strong outcomes. Of almost 700 youth that have participated, more than 90% of them go on to pursue post-secondary education. Now that's not the entirety of or the only marker of success. It's really about resilience. It is about teamwork. It's about feeling like they're really a part of the community. And Francesca has just shared also about leadership. You know, cadets leave with a stronger leadership, teamwork, communication and resilience and all the skills that really help set them up to be just amazing community members going forward. And that, I think, is probably the largest reason why we think this is so important. We're investing in the future.

Francesca, what do you think you've taken away from this? Because I know that you're in your final year of high school. Where does this go for you?

That's an excellent question. Thank you, Robin. Yes, I am in my final year of high school as well as my final year within the three-year cadet program. So I joined in grade 10 and now I am in grade 12. I will miss this