Giving to your community – the joy experienced by an OPS officer

By Chris Hrnchiar

National Volunteer week is April 15 – 21.

The Ottawa Police Service has a rich history of volunteer activity, starting with the first police officers who were only paid if they made an arrest to the Ottawa Police Chorus and the Police Venturers. Our community police centres benefit from active citizens helping to promote safety and crime prevention and the auxiliary personnel help on-duty sworn officers.

As a sworn member, I have been so personally and professionally fulfilled by my volunteer activities. 

I find that I have to be involved in my community, not just as a serving officer, but also, as a citizen to help make all our lives in Ottawa better.  My community means a great deal to me – I have grown up here, I was married here and have raised my family here.  My roots with family, friends, colleagues and institutions here are deep. 

Over many years, my volunteer activities have been rich and varied. I drive senior citizens to worship at my church, many with mobility issues, unable to drive. For them, getting to be with a church community is a good and healing part of their lives. I have given blood and platelet donations over 260 times with Canadian Blood Services. They say about blood that “it’s in you to give” – so true; the satisfaction gained from helping to save a life or contribute to someone’s health recovery is immense. I also read to students at Pinecrest Public School as part of the OttawaReads program. I started this activity in 2011 at the former Grant Alternative School. The joy I get from being with the kids, engaging with them, helping them with language and exploring books is fantastic. It is special to help be a role model and mentor to kids, especially in an age of more social media/computers, where books don’t often get the attention they deserve. 

I have also been filled with happiness and calm and learning by being with members of the Ottawa Indigenous community, especially our Inuit population. Our Indigenous peoples in Canada have a rich and tough history, one that we should all pay more attention to and learn from. I have benefited from reading to kids at the Ottawa Inuit Children’s Centre and being a part of their cultural events. I have been a part of many Inuit activities, from volunteering to serve food at Christmas events to taking Santa visit pictures for the great kids and families.

I know many of my colleagues are involved in volunteering too. There are several people who are sports coaches, spend time with youth as part of the Big Brothers Big Sisters Ottawa program, volunteer with the Ottawa Boys and Girls Club and Special Olympics.

Sir Winston Churchill said, “We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.”

I can’t say enough how much what we do for others can make a difference. Please give of your time and talents, every little bit helps.  You will put a smile on someone’s face, get a kind “thank you” and so much more!

No matter your age or interest, you can find an organization that’s right for you. Start with Volunteer Ottawa.