Sgt. Devon Archer | Police Services Hero of the Year Award nominee

 Sergeant Devon Archer is nominated for the Police Services Hero of the Year Award for his years of work with youth in Ottawa.

For many years and through many projects, Sgt. Archer is passing the ladder down. “That’s what I always teach people, when someone helps you go up or if I help someone, the only thing I ask is that they pass the ladder down to the next person,” he said.

Many kids in Ottawa get to call themselves published authors since 2020 thanks to the Grow a Writer project that Sgt. Archer launched. “This was a way for us to stay connected with the kids during the pandemic,” he explained. Alongside a local publisher, Sgt. Archer helps creative minds see their stories printed in a book he hand-delivers to the young authors every year.

“The stories are fun to read, and many kids included pictures this year.” The next book is expected to come out soon, as the final meetings are happening this week.

But this is only one of the many ways Sgt. Archer goes above and beyond for the kids in Ottawa.

The Ottawa Blues FC is a soccer team founded by Sgt. Archer in 2011 that is defined by its slogan: if we can play together, we can work together. The Blues has grown into the Ottawa Emergency Services League where, along with other first responders (paramedics, firefighters, RCMP, correctional officers, special constables), tournaments are organized, and all proceeds go to youth programs in the community.

The team holds an annual memorial tournament for Cst. Eric Czapnik, an annual Ottawa Charity Shield game and continues to grow into exciting events that are currently under planification.

The Junior Blues Soccer Program is where Sgt. Archer and all the incredible people involved in this project get to make a longstanding impact on the young people of Ottawa.

“The program is eight weeks long and every week focuses on soccer, fitness training and developing skills, and then it ends with an educational workshop,” Sgt. Archer explained. “It could be finance, tactical and other important departments within the Ottawa Police.”

The workshops and guests are tailored to the group and matched to the kids’ needs. One year, there were many newcomers to Canada in the Junior Blues, one player having only been on Canada soil for two months. Sgt. Archer arranged to have an OPS member come talk about their immigration experience, finding community, the right group of people and joining the police service.

“My biggest mentors were my mother and my coaches growing up,” Sgt. Archer said. “I’m just passing the ladder down and instilling in the kids what was given to me.”

Though Sgt. Archer got many of these projects off the ground, they would not be possible without the help, hard work and dedication of all the involved members. 

The Police Services Hero of the year award honours on-duty difference makers throughout Ontario. Nominations are open until March 7, 2025.