Officer learned his caring nature and duty of care from his mother

Cst. Jean-Alex de Sève Bergeron grew up on a farm in the village of St. Claude, Québec. His father taught at l’Université de Sherbrooke and his mother gave up a promising teaching career to raise her sons.

“In addition to looking after us, she also ran the farm,” said Jean-Alex, who’s been a police officer for five years, three of them with the Ottawa Police Service. “She made it look easy, and she did it all with patience and kindness.”

His mother instilled in him the calling to serve one’s community. She was part of the Canadian Red Cross disaster response team helping people with catastrophic loss, like a house fire and another organization that supported refugees coming from war-torn countries to settle in Canada.

In addition to volunteering, his mother worked on completing her PhD studies. “Yet she was always there for us,” says Jean-Alex. “This showed me one can succeed in different aspects of one’s life and be there for family too.”

Although he always wanted to be a police officer, in 2000, Jean-Alex began work in the healthcare field as an emergency room and intensive care unit registered nurse for the Canadian Forces Health Service Group. “My professional goal has always been to help others and make a positive difference in a difficult time.”

After seventeen years, Jean-Alex decided he wanted to help the community in a different way.

“I wasn’t surprised Jean-Alex chose policing,” says his mother. “He has always been a leader, and from a young age showed a surprising level of perseverance and self-discipline. At high school, his friends trusted him and confided in him. He has always shown a genuine desire ‘to serve’. He doesn’t do it ‘for glory’, he does it because he believes it’s his duty as a member of our community.”

This desire came from his mother. “I became a nurse because of her empathy, compassion and devotion to the wellbeing of others. It was the greatest thing she taught me.”

It can be seen in his service in Afghanistan, his first-aid volunteer work with Saint-John Ambulance and his decision to become a police officer.

When asked for his favourite memory of his mother, Jean-Alex replied, “I make amazing memories with her every day, it’s impossible to choose just one.”

He did say though, as a boy she showed him how to care for the animals on the farm and to garden, but she also taught him to play sports, like swimming and soccer. “Those were great moments.”

The mother and son share a close relationship to this day. They are neighbours and she is involved in her grandchildren’s care.

“My mother has always played a crucial role in influencing me to become the person that I am. I am still learning from her today, and I think I always will,” he said. “Because of her, I am a better husband, father and police officer. I cannot thank her enough for that.”