10th Anniversary Ten Year Review

1993:
In August, the OPP held a public meeting to see if there were people interested in forming a support group in the community. At that meeting nine people were present.

On September 21st we held our official meeting in the Township Board room.

On October 19th WAPVA established its Constitution and By-Laws.

1994:
The Association went public, and was quick in responding to some break and enters on Lorrain Lake and assisted the police in the arrest of two suspects. During the following meeting the members involved were presented with certificates of appreciation by Staff Sergeant Dennis Edlington.

In May the Association got their first two hand-held radios, to be used during the patrolling of the town at night.

During the Jennerich search the community got together and fed some 20 officers full course dinners for three weeks. A letter of appreciation was received from Sargeant Steve Adam and a plaque from 8 District Emergency Response Team.

1995:
On August 3rd members went out to search for two missing girls. Both girls were found in good shape and were reunited with their parents.

In December members took part in responding to a break and enter resulting in an ATV chase. Two suspects were taken into custody. A letter of appreciation was received from Chief Superintendent R.J.Eamer.

1996:
The fight was on to keep the Minden Detachment in Haliburton County.

August saw the search for two anglers lost at High Falls in Harcourt over night. Both were found the next morning.

1997:
In June, officer Ken Wesley retired and the Association put on a nice dinner in honor of Ken, inviting his wife as well as Mr. & Mrs. Ron Buchanan.

In November the association opened up its second office on Elephant Lake Road, near Harcourt. Thanks to the Late Chester Schwandt.

1998:
In April WAPVA received a $2500 grant from the Partners In Crime Program and purchased two new base stations and two mobile radios, one in Harcourt and one in Wilberforce.

In May, Minden OPP officially opened their new office.

1999:
Association purchased an ATV in May, and equipped it with a radio for their use as well for the Monmouth Fire Department.

2000:
In May the Association said thanks to all the local Businesses for their support over the years and presented them all with a plaque.

www.wapva.org was launched so the public can stay informed. The Association also made a donation to the OPP Summer Youth Camp Program.

2001:
WAPVA members along with the Monmouth Volunteer Fire Department secured the Wilberforce Elementary School during a bomb threat until the police cleared the school.

In May the Red Cross launched its National Personal Disaster program, the first of its kind in a rural area in Canada, made up by members of the Monmouth Fire Department and WAPVA.

The Association also sponsored the D.A.R.E. Program put on by the Minden OPP at the Wilberforce School.

In October, after amalgamation, at the request of our Reeve Keith Tallman, WAPVA expanded their operations to Gooderham, by opening up their third office.

2002:
The Association wrote letters to the Federal and Provincial Governments in regard to the pornography materials on the Internet, and what they are doing about it. Disappointingly WAPVA got little to no response.

2003:
The Association made a donation to Haliburton County Home Support Services for two Emergency Response Units to help seniors and physically disabled adults live a better life.

WAPVA held their Tenth Anniversary Roast Beef Dinner and invited the two retired officers who all started this, Ron Buchanan and Ken Wesley, along with their wives as well as Ernie and Evelyn Hemphill who both were on the first Executive.