Birch Island, Sheshegwaning will have police presence
M’CHIGEENG—UCCM Anishinaabe Police Service representatives and members of the communities of Sheshegwaning First Nation (and Zhiibaahaasing First Nation) and Whitefish River First Nation (WRFN) are all looking forward to police satellite offices being opened to service their communities. The office in Sheshegwaning is being developed first with the second in WRFN to be carried out later in 2025.
“It is very good news,” stated Alana Endanawas, chief of the Sheshegwaning First Nation after a meeting was held in the community to allow local residents the opportunity to share their thoughts and ideas about the new UCCM Police satellite office. “We’re pretty excited about it, with the new office, the police will be able to cover the Sheshegwaning and Zhiibaahaasing areas.”
“This facility will be a prefabricated commercial/residential building designed to serve as a permanent satellite office for both Sheshegwaning and Zhiibaahaasing First Nations,” said Chief Endanawas. “The building will include office space, washroom, a meeting area and quarters for officers, greatly enhancing their capability to respond to service calls on the West End. This permanent presence will not only assist officers in their duties but also foster stronger community relations.”
“We are incredibly grateful for this opportunity to better serve our communities,” said Chief Endanawas.
Rodney Nahwegahbow, chief of WRFN, said, “Absolutely, this is good news. We haven’t fully engaged members of the community on this project yet but council earlier this fall endorsed having a satellite office open.” He noted that while site preparation work is still being carried out the new satellite office, which will be developed in the new year, will be housed in the new subdivision area in the community. “It will provide security and peace of mind by having a police presence.”
“Local residents will have the opportunity to walk up to and report any incidents to the police,” said Chief Nahwegahbow. “It will provide for something like storefront policing and be an asset in bridging communication between the community of police and peace of mind with crime escalating in all communities these days.”
Brad Mack, UCCM APS staff sergeant and detachment director of operations said, “We are going to be breaking the ground on the new site (to be located on Sheshegwaning Road just as you enter the community).” The Sheshegwaning band allocated the property for the new satellite office.
“The foundations for the new modular building will be in place by around mid-December, and since it is a modular building it will not take long construct, and will include finishing touches like a garage that can handle 2.5 vehicles. I’m hoping that the new satellite office (in Sheshegwaning) will be open late spring or early summer, in the May/June range,” said Staff Sergeant Mack.
The WRFN location work will begin in earnest next summer, said Staff Sergeant Mack. “The satellite office for Birch Island) will be located in the new subdivision area, close to the highway.” The UCCM APS is using its own funding sources for the new offices with the land being allocated by the First Nation communities.
“Currently our office headquarters is located in M’Chigeeng, which is basically an hour drive from Sheshegwaning and Zhiibaahaasing, resulting in a huge lack of police presence in the West End communities,” continued Staff Sergeant Mack. “I’ve been around the UCCM APS for 32 years, and we have never really had strong police enforcement on the west end of the Island.”
“I’m pretty excited and proud that we have the opportunity to put these satellite offices in the communities. This is long overdue,” said Staff Sergeant Mack. “Every community on Manitoulin Island deserves to feel safe. And when there is a sign on a building that says police, if a person in a community or visiting has any ill intent, this might help dissuade them. A visual and physical presence means a lot. And there is no doubt communities all over Manitoulin have issues dealing with drugs and addictions. Our goal is to help serve all of the Island.”
“The offices and police presence will improve community engagement,” said Staff Sergeant Mack. “With an office in the communities, officers will be able to visit schools, band offices, businesses. It is all about building relationships in the community.”
Staff Sergeant Mack explained that the UCCM APS will not be housing officers permanently in the satellite offices but will have 5-6 officers on a platoon at one time, and will provide zone type policing, depending on where the calls are coming from in their detachment area.
As for the public meeting held in Sheshegwaning on November 25, “There was a good response from the community. I was surprised at the number of elders in attendance,” continued Staff Sergeant Mack. “It speaks to them wanting us there. I felt a really welcoming feeling and I sensed there is a lot of buy-in from members of the community to have the office and the presence of officers in the communities. Sheshegwaning and Zhiibaahaasing will benefit. And if, for example, there is an incident taking place on the West End of the Island, say in Silver Water, and the Manitoulin OPP is investigating we will be able to assist them. It will be a win-win for everyone.”
Staff Sergeant Mack said, “as far as scheduling, starting (this) week the UCCM APS will be providing 24 hour a day policing. Right now we provide 20 hours daily, from 8 am to 6 pm and from 6 pm to 4 am. We will now be going to two 12-hour shifts,” noting both the Manitoulin detachment of the OPP and the Wikwemikong Tribal Police Service already has around the clock service.
