New chaplain at Timmins Police Service to provide spiritual back up when needed
When a Timmins Police Service employee needs to call for spiritual back-up, Deacon David Smith will be there.
"He’s at the ready," said Marc Depatie, communications coordinator for the Timmins Police Service. "We’ve made it clear within our own internal intranet site that he is at the disposal of officers to call upon at any hour within reason of course so that their needs are being met."
The deacon is the newly appointed Chaplain for the Service and he will provide confidential spiritual guidance to anyone who requests it--regardless of religious affiliation, practice or beliefs. He is replacing Monsignor Pat Lafleur who retired in June.
"I said do you really think I can do this and he said I wouldn’t be asking you if I didn’t think you could," reflected Smith.
This isn't the first time Smith has donned a police uniform. He served as a sworn officer for one year in 1973. He said it wasn't for him, but this role feels right.
"I look at myself as being a listening ear ... You want to talk? I’ll listen to you. I think that’s important. It makes them feel a little more secure and maybe positive in how things are going in their lives. They’re not alone," said Smith.
Depatie said the deacon's obligations will vary from providing workplace stress support, performing religious ceremonies, counselling for all personnel and their families to visiting members in crisis.
Depatie said employee assistance programs and peer support options continue to be offered and although, the deacon is not a licensed councillor, he is another shoulder to lean upon, especially during this exceptional time.
"COVID does not make our job any easier and still our officers are going to an increasing number of perhaps domestics; other forms of discord going on. It can be mentally taxing," said Depatie. "Perhaps a given officer might be of a more religious point of view or take greater value out of having their spiritual needs met as opposed to their mental health needs."
"They want to have somebody they can see and to relate to rather than just a screen on a phone or the computer and I think that’s probably the most important thing is the one-on-one," added Smith.
As someone with extensive life experience, Smith said he will also listen to people who need to get things off their minds when it comes to substance abuse, family issues and financial stress.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Spectacular aurora light show to be seen across Canada Friday night
A rare and severe solar storm is expected to bring spectacular displays of the northern lights, also known as aurora borealis, across much of Canada and parts of the United States on Friday night.
Which Canadian cities have the highest and lowest grocery prices?
Where you live plays a big factor in what you pay at the grocery store. And while it's no secret the same item may have a different price depending on the store, city or province, we wanted to see just how big the differences are, and why.
McGill University seeks emergency injunction to dismantle pro-Palestinian encampment
McGill University has filed a request for an injunction to have the pro-Palestinian encampment removed from its campus.
Swarm of 20,000 bees gather around woman’s car west of Toronto
A swarm of roughly 20,000 bees gathered around a woman’s car in the parking lot of Burlington Centre.
U.S. says Israel's use of U.S. arms likely violated international law, but evidence is incomplete
The Biden administration said Friday that Israel's use of U.S.-provided weapons in Gaza likely violated international humanitarian law but wartime conditions prevented U.S. officials from determining that for certain in specific airstrikes.
Barron Trump declines to serve as an RNC delegate
Former U.S. President Donald Trump's youngest son, Barron Trump, has declined to serve as a delegate at this summer’s Republican National Convention, according to a senior Trump campaign adviser and a statement from Melania Trump's office.
Mother assaulted by stranger while breastfeeding baby in her car: Vancouver police
A person was arrested in East Vancouver Thursday after allegedly entering a car while a mother was breastfeeding her four-month-old boy.
'We have laws': Premier Smith says police action justified in Calgary
The actions, including the decision to use non-lethal force, to disperse pro-Palestinian protesters from the University of Calgary campus were justified, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith said Friday.
'State or state-sponsored actor' believed to be behind B.C. government hacks
The head of British Columbia’s civil service has revealed that a “state or state-sponsored actor” is behind multiple cyber-security incidents against provincial government networks.