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Mother Follows Son Back to School for Rewarding Career in Enforcement

October 15, 2013

“I was frustrated and bored with the work I was doing,” says Nancy Roy, describing her administrative career. “The passion was gone and the pay was not good.”  She started to look at her options.

Nancy knew that public safety and enforcement skills were in demand. Her son Kyle had studied Protection, Security and Investigation at Loyalist and completed a placement at the Hastings and Prince Edward Counties Health Unit that led to a job. He was hired as a tobacco enforcement officer after graduation. 

“Kyle had graduated from Loyalist in 2009 and was doing very well. I began to think about school. I researched my options and discovered there were many opportunities within the legal field. I went to a ‘Return to Learn’ session at the College and I felt inspired by the justice studies programs being offered. 

“The faculty assured me of their support and that even as a mature student I would be able to do this. I couldn’t wait to get started.”

Not only did Nancy successfully complete the two-year program in Protection, Security and Investigation – she excelled at it. She was awarded the Bob Thomas Award for top overall student for outstanding academics, leadership and organization, and graduated in June 2012 with an overall grade point average of 96%. Today, Nancy is employed by the Hastings and Prince Edward Counties Health Unit as a tobacco enforcement officer, ensuring compliance with the Smoke-Free Ontario Act.

During the program, Nancy completed placements with the Health Unit and Defence Construction Canada.  “My program placements were, without question, key to my success,” Nancy explains. “They let me gain experience and gave me the opportunity to observe what my potential career could be. I was accepted and treated as a professional.

Mother Follows Son Back to School for Rewarding Career in Enforcement

“My son Kyle was a tobacco enforcement officer at the Health Unit when I asked to do my placement there. During that time Kyle decided to make a change and is now with the Metro Toronto Police. His job was posted – I applied and was offered the position. I have no doubt that the impression I made during my placement contributed to my success in getting the job.”

In fact, Nancy’s entire graduating class entered into the workforce; provincial statistics show the program’s employment rate after graduation was 100%.

“The skills I learned at Loyalist have had a huge impact on my career,” Nancy stresses. “Enforcement Procedures, Conflict Management, Abnormal Psychology – classes like these gave me the knowledge necessary to understand proper procedure and the skills to keep me safe. The field experience that our professors brought to the classroom contributed greatly to the learning environment.”

Graduates of Loyalist’s two-year program have found varied employment as military police officers, transit and university special constables, nuclear security officers, municipal enforcement, and Alcohol and Gaming Commission inspectors, as well as many areas of private security and investigations. Rapid growth in the demand for safety, enforcement and investigation services has created many new opportunities and a shortage of qualified personnel in this field. For information about Loyalist’s Protection, Security and Investigation program, contact Professor Kevin Rowcliffe at krowcliffe@loyalistc.on.ca.

 

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