MINDEMOYA—Marie Ford is a beloved member of the Manitoulin community and as a police officer with the Manitoulin Ontario Provincial Police, something that was proven at the constable’s retirement party held last week in Mindemoya.
“Can you feel the love tonight? Marie you are so loved and appreciated. Thank you for coming to the Island for what you had expected would be a four year and are duration and staying a lifetime,” stated Karlene Scott, master of ceremonies at a retirement celebration held for Ms. Ford, a provincial constable with the Ontario Provincial Police for 30 years (25 of which were spent on Manitoulin). Well over 100 people packed the hall of the Freshwater Community Church last Thursday evening to recognize, thank and show love and appreciation for Ms. Ford, from representatives of local police services, the many groups and organizations she belongs to, her many friends across the Island and family.
James Killeen, Chief of Police for the UCCM Anishinaabe Police Service said, “I think everyone here tonight should give yourselves a round of applause. I have been a police officer for 26 years and I have never seen the response for an officer as I am seeing tonight. The support is massive for Marie. It is incredible and wonderful to see all your support for Marie.”
“I would like to welcome everyone here for this evening,” said Ms. Scott. “We are here to celebrate a wonderful evening to celebrate provincial constable Marie Ford on her retirement.”
“We are celebrating a dear friend and showing an amazing lady how much we appreciate her service, dedication, commitment and friendship for all of Manitoulin Island, but especially our hometown of Mindemoya,” said Ms. Scott.
“It all started in August 1998 when a young married couple saw a posting for provincial constables on Manitoulin Island,” explained Ms. Scott. “Marie and (her husband) Steve (Redmond) decided to give it a try and come to the Island for a duration of four years. After all, how bad could it be?”
“They checked out the local real estate and found a house on Hill Road. So, in July 1999 they both reported to duty for a four-year duration on Manitoulin Island,” said Ms. Scott. She pointed out Mindemoya was excited to have the two additional young officers in the community. Some questioned why Marie didn’t take her husband’s last name. As was the case then and as we found out, “Marie is her own person with a strong personality.”
“Two years passed, and it was now 2001, and Marie and Steve had their first son, Matthew. Everyone was excited for them,” said Ms. Scott. “They had two more years’ time adjusting to the Island and then their four-year duration would be up. They decided to take it year by year. They had another baby in 2004, Zoe. By this time Matthew had so many friends, and their house was too small, so they built an addition on their house.”
“Then in 2009 Thomas arrived and Marie decided they couldn’t leave the Island,” continued Ms. Scott. “She even convinced her parents to move to Mindemoya. We remember Marie stating that ‘no way are my kids going to play hockey.’ All participated in Mindemoya Thunder hockey, attending Central Manitoulin Public School and Manitoulin Secondary School.”
“Marie saw the closing of the OPP detachments in Manitowaning and Mindemoya. She and her family had many happy events, along with tough times like everyone else. But even during the tough times, Marie always saw the bright side of things, with her big laugh and very caring heart,” said Ms. Scott. “We want to show you how much we appreciate everything you have done.”
Central Manitoulin Mayor Richard Stephens said “We wish Marie all the best in your retirement. You do look too young to be retiring. And we want to thank everyone for coming out here this evening to show your appreciation for Marie.”
“Central Manitoulin is a very welcoming community,” said Mayor Stephens. “We appreciate that she has remained here all these years. Marie and her family are a big part of the community.”
Janet Anning, who works for Manitoulin North Shore Victim Services and is the coordinator for Manitoulin Special Olympics (MSO) told the audience she had met Marie a few years ago in the Mindemoya arena. “I began work in the court system in 2000-2001, and with victim services and we both deal with a lot of clients. I miss you dearly already.”
Ms. Anning explained that Special Olympics holds provincial and national fundraising Torch Runs every year. “I was able to coerce Marie to become the MSO torch run law enforcement officer. The Torch Run is a fundraiser, but the run on Manitoulin is unique and not really a fundraiser.”
“When the run originated on the Island participants would run from the Mindemoya hospital to the downtown area,” said Ms. Anning. “But Marie was able to get the public school (CMPS) involved. Students line up outside the school and cheer our athletes on, and then the students participate with our athletes in the run. Our Special Olympic athletes really enjoy this and the way it is run has raised a lot of acceptance as well in recognizing Special Olympics. Marie is such an important part of our Special Olympics program.”
Ms. Ford arranged an annual Manitoulin police services floor hockey game with the MSO athletes. “Our athletes look forward to this more than anything else they take part in,” said Ms. Anning. “Thankfully, Marie is going to stay on with MSO and will be organizing the Torch Run again this year. And Steve (Redmond) is just as important to us, he has taken on providing extra training for several of our athletes. He and Marie have gone the extra mile in helping out,” she said in presenting an MSO coaches jacket to Ms. Ford.
Lauren Dewar, a member of the Mindemoya Neighbourhood Watch Program, “on behalf of Mindemoya Neighbourhood Watch I would like to thank Marie for all the support she has given us for the program.” She explained in the fall of 2019, there seemed to be an increase in crime related instances in Mindemoya. “It rattled us, the residents in town. In just a few short days Marie took calls to have a public meeting and from that the Neighbourhood Watch program was established. Marie has been a key part of helping and comforting us, she is a neighbour, one of us, and cares.”
David Wiwchar, principal of MSS talked about Ms. Ford’s role as a school resource officer (SRO) and mentioned that when situations arose in which students had taken part in negative action, she would take action and help solve the problem, in turn building rapport in the school, and with the students, building a real connection and trust with them. “Her dedication and purpose had her mind on what good could come of something awful. Then she set about making it happen. And I’d get the phone call, ‘how do you think this might go?’ And off she would go and make it happen.”
“JK Rowling wrote, ‘you don’t seek power or popularity. You simply ask, is the thing right in itself? If it is, then I must do it, no matter the cost,’” said Mr. Wiwchar. “Marie walked the balance of social worker versus police enforcement. With a quick smile, students warmed to her immediately and trusted her to correct them and defend them from harm. On everything from substance abuse, online bullying and everything that goes wrong with kids on cell phones. ‘Right is right even if no one is doing it; wrong is wrong even if everyone is doing it,’ by Saint Augustine comes to mind.”
“Marie took care of the Island while taking care of her family. She and Steve have raised wonderful children, exemplary in every way,” continued Mr. Wiwchar. “She was always just a text away as we dealt with so many complex situations. Each of Marie and Steve’s children are the best anyone could hope for, impeccable character in each of them learned from their parents and family.”
“So, of course, Marie served on school council for years, always that person to turn conversation positive, proactive and productive, dreaming of what could be and joining with great ideas to bring them about,” continued Mr. Wiwchar. “All of her actions built trust in her, gave students a sense of security in their sometimes difficult circumstances, let students feel safe, knowing someone strong was looking out for them, our schools and our community. That same person who played laser tag with them with such skill was the one to come practice lockdown drills and debrief what went well and could improve with each class. She trained Tessa Kasch in the role of SRO and made that transition so smooth, it felt like we had double the help for just the right amount of time and I know that came of Marie doing double duty in the interest of making sure all went well and that our students were looked after.”
“By Marie’s way with people, hundreds of students got the privilege of knowing the best attributes of law enforcement and civil society,” continued Mr. Wiwchar. “In challenging times like these, it’s role models like Marie that the world needs, and we’ve been privileged to have had her serve here on the great Manitoulin Island. Roosevelt put in nicely, ‘in any moment of decision, the best thing you can do is the right thing. The worst thing you can do is nothing.’ Thank you, Marie!”
“I’m honoured,” stated Ms. Ford. “It is because of all of you here this evening that I have had the best career on Manitoulin Island.”
Ms. Ford told The Expositor in an interview last week that she spent a 30-year career with the OPP. She had started in Napanee for six years before she and Steve decided to transfer to the Island for a four-year duration.
“But when we got here, we realized that this is a little piece of paradise, for families, kids and parents,” said Ms. Ford. “You just can’t beat the work life balance here. We love all our Island communities—this is an incredible place to work and live.”
“We quickly adjusted to living here and learned the real importance of community and that our communities do care. You are not policing them, you are policing with them,” said Ms. Ford.
In retirement, “I want to do volunteer work in the community and give back to the kids and families,” added Ms. Ford.
