BCSS

Recruitment for the British Columbia Sheriff Service is handled by the Service's Recruiting and Selection Unit. It isn't easy. Applicants must meet provincial standards, go through several interviews - including a panel interview - answer a questionnaire on lifestyle and integrity and background and criminal checks are performed. Of course, there is physical fitness testing, driving and vision tests as well as medical.

Recruits undergo an intensive 16-week training program and the Justice Institute of British Columbia in New Westminster - the same building where I meet with the Toastmasters group I just joined. The training is broken in three blocks and consists of training in Legal Studies, Report Writing, Force Response Options, Arrest and Control techniques, Physical Fitness, Communications, Dress and Deportment, Emergency Operation / Driving training and Roles and Responsibilities.

The  soon to be sheriffs are also trained to provincial standards in use of force option tools such as pistols, expandable batons, OC pepper spray and CEW tasers. BCSS members receive ongoing training in active shooter scenarios and team deployments. They are also qualified to to provincial standards in Emergency vehicle operation, crowd management, incident command system and first aid. Sheriffs can be deployed to help other law enforcement agencies with public safety during civil emergencies.

The BCSS members continue their training after the initial 16 weeks. They receive advanced training in media management motorcade training, communications skills, controlled access points, command level incident command, managing targeted violence, infrastructure vulnerability assessment training, legal studies refresher course, communications tactics and radio communications, drug identification, notebook and advanced report writing, basic criminal investigation/contact and cover, gangs course, corruption integrity and compromise course, force response options, euthanization of wildlife, intelligence officer Level 1 course and threat awareness. These law enforcements members are encouraged to take advantage of a large range of law enforcement related courses offered by the Justice Institute of British Columbia or through other law enforcement agencies.

I have a little more to tell you about the BCSS but I will do that on Monday. You only have until 8 AM PST June 29 (Saturday) to get a copy of my eBook On The Right Side, My Story of Survival and Success, for 99 cents in the UK and the US. 

Here's a little sample:

Mondays can be unpleasant days but none as awful as June 5, 2000 was to me. My alarm sounded and when I reached over to try to turn it off, my left arm wouldn’t move. I sleep on my right side so I had to manoeuvre myself so that I could turn off the noise. I managed to do that then struggled to sit up. I sleepily stood, but then my left leg collapsed under me.

First thing in the morning, I am not fully awake but I do know I have to go to the washroom – that room calls me as soon as my eyes open. Sometimes even before. That Monday I crawled the short distance between my bedroom and the bathroom where I hauled myself onto the toilet, took care of business, and then dragged myself up to the bathroom sink. I leaned against the vanity and brushed my teeth, watching myself in the mirror as I did so. It was strange. Nothing on the left side of my face moved. It was as if someone had drawn a line down the center of my body and everything on the right side was fine but the left side didn’t move. What was going on?

I want to say thank you to wikipedia for the information on the BCSS. The photos are from my jaunt to Pacific Spirit Park.

I hope you find the beauty around you.

Here Come The Sheriff

If you go back to the year 1857, you will find that Governor James Douglas has appointed the first sheriff for the Colony of Vancouver Island. Andrew Muir was appointed and derived his authority from English Common Law. Muir holds the distinction of being the first sworn Peace Officer in what is now known as British Columbia.

In 1974, the British Columbia Sheriff Service - BCSS - was formed when the New Democratic Party consolidated County Sheriffs. The organization was placed under the Ministry of the Attorney General.

The BCSS are Peace Officers. They receive their authority from the Criminal Code of Canada, the BC Police Act and the BC Sheriff Act. The Sheriffs have legislated authority throughout the province to enforce provincial and federal statutes that refer to the empowerment of Peace Officers.

Our Sheriffs have numerous responsibilities. The BCSS is in charge of such matters as the protection of the Provincial, Supreme and Appeal Courts of BC, planning high security trials, utilizing High Security Teams, Intelligence Unit and assessing threats towards those employed in the Justice system.  The Sheriffs are also in charge of the protection of Judges and Crown Prosecutors, managing detention cells, transportation of prisoners by ground and air, manage and provide protection for Juries. The BCSS serve court-related documents, execute court orders, execute civil and criminal warrants, and assist with coroner's court.

Wow, the sheriffs of the BCSS do a lot of stuff and on Friday I am going to tell you more about the training and other stuff they do. However, right now I want to tell that until Saturday morning at 8 am PST, my eBook On The Right Side, My Story of Survival and Success, will be on sale for 99 cents in the UK and the US.

Here's a blurb to get you interested:

What if you woke one day to find yourself paralysed on one side of your body?

That’s what happened to Karen Magill on June 5, 2000. Nine days later she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis and just over three months after that, she had to leave the best job she had ever had. Ms. Magill started on a frightening, confusing journey that was her life now.

Then something interesting happened. Once Karen began adjusting to her new circumstances, coming to terms with the fact that her former life had vanished, she realized that the MS was a gift. Her eyes opened to the possibilities around her.

On The Right Side, My Story of Survival and Success looks at Ms. Magill’s life with MS and the factors in life, which influence her.  This isn’t a how to book on living well with chronic illness, but rather a touching, opinionated, sometimes humorous story on how one person has gone from partial paralysis to jumping to touch low hanging tree leaves.

As long as we aren’t six feet under, we are on the right side and anything is possible. That’s the philosophy Ms. Magill lives by and hopes that readers will come to realize that they too can overcome hardships and live good lives. 

I want to thank Wikipedia for the information on the BCSS.

I hope you find the beauty around you.

Salsbury Sights

North of Hastings Street, there is an industrial area. Hidden among the warehouses and factories, is this treasure at 220 Salsbury Drive.

This house is a common design - a simple rectangular form with a front-gabled roof and an attached porch known as a Gabled Vernacular - however, the construction is unique.It is made from concrete blocks, which were likely made on site using a mold kit that was available at the time.

Concrete blocks with a rusticated face were a poor man's granite at the time. This material is usually found on retaining walls and gateposts on the big wooden houses east of Commercial Drive.

This house is probably from 1908. However, the source I am getting information from hasn't been able to find a building permit as of yet. The building appeared on Goad's map of 1911. Blacksmith Alex J. Ross is listed as living here at that time.

The next building I want to talk about is also on Salsbury. 1010 to be exact. It is an apartment building designed by Arthur Julius Bird for Caledonian Investment Co. Tradesmen, labourers were rapidly coming to the Grandview area and housing was needed for them.

The building permit is dated August 5, 1911 and R. Maclean and Co carried out the work at an estimated cost of $34,000. 

At the time this was built, there was almost no zoning restrictions and people were able to do basically whatever they wanted. This structure is just north of a grand home, 'Kurrajong'. (Here's my entry on that beautiful building)

There is a sort of do-as-you-please attitude to these structures. Here, the architect fancied up a plain Edwardian apartment block with bay windows framing the three entrances.

I want to thank the Grandview Heritage Group for the information on these buildings. 

I also want to tell you that from today until Saturday morning at 8 am PST, my eBook On The Right Side, My Story of Survival and Success, will be on sale for 99 cents in the UK and the US.

I hope you find the beauty around you.