"Lifelong bond" formed by two kids given dream experience to command Regina's RCMP Academy
Janine from Lloydminster was one of the children selected to take part in a two-day experience hosted by the RCMP, including one day in Edmonton and the second in Regina.
The youngsters were allowed to 'fly a drone, and I liked flying the drone,' said Janine, who also experienced 'petting some dogs and crushing a car (with a police truck).'
This is the second year that the RCMP has offered a once-in-a-lifetime experience through the Kids with Cancer Society based in Edmonton. Tessa from Fort McMurray was also selected, and her favourite activity was also flying the drones.
Only the first names of the girls were shared for their privacy.
Janine described the experience as 'awesome.' For her mom, Laura, it meant a lot to see her daughter welcomed so warmly by the RCMP.
It even brought tears to her eyes, she says.
Janine was diagnosed with leukemia in 2021 but finished treatment two years ago. She's been in good health since, her mom says.
'Between COVID isolation and cancer, she was alone a lot so having this experience where she got to meet another cancer kid is really special for her,' said Laura, who accompanied her daughter over the two days. 'And she got to make some friends and do some cool experiences. I think her and Tessa formed like a lifelong bond.'
The girls were taken for a helicopter ride above Edmonton and then later in the day flew to Regina, where they were fitted with their own Red Serge to join the cadet graduation dinner. On Tuesday, the RCMP held the Sergeant Major's Parade for a change of command and the girls inspected the cadets as co-commanding officers for the day.
'Children who are battling cancer miss so much,' said Madison McElligott, who is the events manager of the Kids with Cancer Society. 'This is our way of trying to give them a day back that they never would have (had).'
The Kids with Cancer Society provides a variety of services to families in northern Alberta. The program also includes 'unique' dream experiences for the children, like the one held with the RCMP.
Laura says it's already something they will never forget, adding that Janine might consider returning to Regina one day as a cadet.
'I'm so proud,' said her mother. 'She says she wants to come back and train.'
Related
'A Canadian image': RCMP Heritage Centre a pillar in celebrating force's history
Something special is brewing at RCMP Heritage Centre
nyking@postmedia.com
The Regina Leader-Post has created an Afternoon Headlines newsletter that can be delivered daily to your inbox so you are up to date with the most vital news of the day. Click here to subscribe. With some online platforms blocking access to the journalism upon which you depend, our website is your destination for up-to-the-minute news, so make sure to bookmark leaderpost.com and sign up for our newsletters so we can keep you informed. Click here to subscribe.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hamilton Spectator
3 hours ago
- Hamilton Spectator
Canadian man who died in ICE custody reported health concerns weeks before death, agency says
The cause of a Canadian man's death while in custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement last month remains unclear, even as the agency in a report Wednesday says it flagged the man over health concerns just weeks before. Johnny Noviello, 49, was found unresponsive on the afternoon of June 23 at the Federal Detention Center in Miami and later pronounced dead after being attended to by medical staff. According to an ICE report shared publicly , Noviello underwent two evaluations earlier on June 8 and 9 at the request of a unit officer and a health administrator. The man, who had epilepsy, had already been diagnosed with 'unspecified convulsions and hypertension' and prescribed anticonvulsant and blood pressure medication by authorities shortly after being detained in May. Noviello had been living in the U.S. for nearly four decades, with the ICE report noting he first came to the country as a visitor in 1988 and later becoming a permanent resident in October 1991. In 2023, he was convicted of a number of offences, including drug trafficking and racketeering, and sentenced to 12 months in prison. Two years later, in May of this year, Noviello was arrested by ICE at a local probation office and charged with removability on the grounds of his prior conviction. He was awaiting removal from the United States at the time of his death, the agency says. During the first evaluation on June 8, a medical provider requested Noviello get a mental health referral after the man reported 'feeling sad and depressed' — although the ICE report notes Noviello refused to go to a medical clinic for the evaluation. The next day, Noviello told another medical provider that he had not eaten in 'a while.' Though Noviello had normal vitals, the provider at the second evaluation noted that the patient had 'poor personal hygiene,' later discussing the importance of both self-hygiene and a proper diet with the patient. Exactly two weeks later, the detention centre staff found Noviello unresponsive without a pulse and with low body temperature and blood sugar levels. He was later transferred to the care of City of Miami first responders, who declared Noviello dead after trying to revive him for 30 minutes. Wednesday's report comes exactly a month after Noviello's death. Under U.S. policy, ICE had 90 days to publicly share details on the circumstances surrounding the death. More coming.
Yahoo
21 hours ago
- Yahoo
"Lifelong bond" formed by two kids given dream experience to command Regina's RCMP Academy
Two 10-year-old girls donned the Royal Canadian Mounted Police's ceremonial Red Serge uniform on Tuesday as they were put in charge of the RCMP Academy's Depot Division in Regina for a day. Janine from Lloydminster was one of the children selected to take part in a two-day experience hosted by the RCMP, including one day in Edmonton and the second in Regina. The youngsters were allowed to 'fly a drone, and I liked flying the drone,' said Janine, who also experienced 'petting some dogs and crushing a car (with a police truck).' This is the second year that the RCMP has offered a once-in-a-lifetime experience through the Kids with Cancer Society based in Edmonton. Tessa from Fort McMurray was also selected, and her favourite activity was also flying the drones. Only the first names of the girls were shared for their privacy. Janine described the experience as 'awesome.' For her mom, Laura, it meant a lot to see her daughter welcomed so warmly by the RCMP. It even brought tears to her eyes, she says. Janine was diagnosed with leukemia in 2021 but finished treatment two years ago. She's been in good health since, her mom says. 'Between COVID isolation and cancer, she was alone a lot so having this experience where she got to meet another cancer kid is really special for her,' said Laura, who accompanied her daughter over the two days. 'And she got to make some friends and do some cool experiences. I think her and Tessa formed like a lifelong bond.' The girls were taken for a helicopter ride above Edmonton and then later in the day flew to Regina, where they were fitted with their own Red Serge to join the cadet graduation dinner. On Tuesday, the RCMP held the Sergeant Major's Parade for a change of command and the girls inspected the cadets as co-commanding officers for the day. 'Children who are battling cancer miss so much,' said Madison McElligott, who is the events manager of the Kids with Cancer Society. 'This is our way of trying to give them a day back that they never would have (had).' The Kids with Cancer Society provides a variety of services to families in northern Alberta. The program also includes 'unique' dream experiences for the children, like the one held with the RCMP. Laura says it's already something they will never forget, adding that Janine might consider returning to Regina one day as a cadet. 'I'm so proud,' said her mother. 'She says she wants to come back and train.' Related 'A Canadian image': RCMP Heritage Centre a pillar in celebrating force's history Something special is brewing at RCMP Heritage Centre nyking@ The Regina Leader-Post has created an Afternoon Headlines newsletter that can be delivered daily to your inbox so you are up to date with the most vital news of the day. Click here to subscribe. With some online platforms blocking access to the journalism upon which you depend, our website is your destination for up-to-the-minute news, so make sure to bookmark and sign up for our newsletters so we can keep you informed. Click here to subscribe.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
Alcon's Latest Breakthrough Surgical Technology, Unity VCS, receives Health Canada approval
Combined vitreoretinal-cataract system (VCS) is cleared for use in Canada New, proprietary technology is designed to deliver significant surgical and workflow efficiencies First innovation to be introduced from Alcon's cutting-edge Unity portfolio of surgical equipment TORONTO, July 08, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Alcon, the global leader in eye care dedicated to helping people see brilliantly, today announced that UNITY® Vitreoretinal Cataract System (VCS) has received Health Canada approval. This innovation is the first to be introduced from Alcon's highly anticipated Unity portfolio. "Today marks an important day for Canadian ophthalmologists as we introduce the next generation of equipment solutions in cataract and vitreoretinal surgery, and we are grateful to those who helped us reach this milestone," said Franck Leveiller, Head of Global R&D and Chief Scientific Officer, Alcon. "We have a long legacy of engaging our customers throughout the research and development process to design bold innovations in ophthalmology. This approval is a significant milestone in delivering meaningful impact for Canadian Eye Care Professionals and patients." Unity VCS is Alcon's most advanced vitreoretinal and cataract surgical innovations combined together in one integrated platform. Unity VCS is designed to deliver enhanced workflow efficiencies over Alcon's current leading systems, CONSTELLATION® Vision System for vitreoretinal and combined procedures, and CENTURION® Vision System with ACTIVE SENTRY® for cataract surgery. "The first time I used Unity VCS in a wet lab environment, I had a real 'wow' reaction," said Dr. Rosa Braga-Mele, ophthalmologist and chair of Alcon's North America Cataract Core Advisory Board. "This is a proud moment to see the world-class innovation from Alcon receive approval in Canada. I'm particularly excited about the stability of the fluidics and cutting efficiency of the platform, which is quite remarkable and will create considerable surgical efficiencies." Unity VCS leverages a novel phacoemulsification modality to deliver up to two times faster nucleus removal^ with 40% less energy* into the eye1, and a first-of-its-kind phaco handpiece that estimates temperature at the incision site3. In vitreoretinal advancements, the new technology offers cutting speeds of up to 30,000 cuts per minute, the world's fastest vitrectomy probe#,2,3. The platform offers surgical stability and efficiency with a unique proprietary fluidics system3. "As a global market leader in cataract and retina surgical products4,5,6, Alcon recognizes that the increasing demand for these procedures7,8,9 necessitates enhanced workflow efficiencies and excellent patient outcomes," said Jeroen Bastemeijer, General Manager, Alcon Canada. "Unity VCS builds on Alcon's expertise in surgical equipment with pioneering innovations for vitreoretinal and cataract surgery—driving advancements from cutting speeds to fluidics management, to ergonomics and workflow. We are thrilled to bring this latest breakthrough technology, Unity VCS, to Canadian clinics in 2026." Alcon has tested Unity VCS during investigational advisory wet lab sessions with more than 200 highly experienced surgeons from 30+ countries. Commercial launch of Unity VCS is expected in early 2026. Unity VCS is the latest innovation from the Alcon Vision Suite—a portfolio of innovative products designed to help Eye Care Professionals increase clinic and OR efficiency, and deliver exceptional patient experiences. The Alcon Vision Suite will continue to grow with cutting-edge Unity products that are expected to be introduced over the coming years, adding to our market-leading legacy products, which will continue to be available and serviceable. Unity VCS will be supported by Alcon's training, product maintenance, and Services teams. About AlconAlcon helps people see brilliantly. As the global leader in eye care with a heritage spanning over 75 years, we offer the broadest portfolio of products to enhance sight and improve people's lives. Our Surgical and Vision Care products touch the lives of more than 260 million people in over 140 countries each year living with conditions like cataracts, glaucoma, retinal diseases and refractive errors. Our more than 25,000 associates are enhancing the quality of life through innovative products, partnerships with Eye Care Professionals and programs that advance access to quality eye care. Learn more at About UNITY VCSIndications / Intended Use3: The UNITY® VCS (Vitreoretinal Cataract System) console, when used with compatible devices, is indicated for use during anterior segment (i.e. phacoemulsification and removal of cataracts) and posterior segment (i.e. vitreoretinal) ophthalmic surgery. In addition, with the optional laser, this system is indicated for photocoagulation (i.e. vitreoretinal and macular pathologies), iridotomy and trabeculoplasty procedures. Please refer to the Directions for Use for the accessories/consumables and User Manual for a complete listing of indications, warnings, cautions and notes. ^2x faster nucleus removal than OZIL Torsional phaco*Based on N=10 HPs, Artificial cataract lens IOP 55 mmHg vacuum of 450 mmHg#Compared to Constellation HYPERVIT 20k vitrectomy probeOZIL - Trademarks are the property of their respective owners. References Alcon Data on File, 2024 - REF-24379. Alcon Data on File, 2024 - REF-24644. Unity VCS User Manual 2024 – REF-24980. Market Scope 2023 Retinal Surgical Device Market Report, 2023. Market Scope 2023 Cataract Surgical Equipment Market Report, 2023. Market Scope 2024 IOL Market Report, 2024. CNIB – Blindness in Canada, Accessed December 2, 2024 - REF-19527. The Prevalence of Canadian Vision Loss and Cataract Surgery, 2019 - REF-01661. Conference Board of Canada - Ophthalmology in Canada: Why Vision Loss Should Not Be Overlooked, 2020 - REF-10834. Connect with us onFacebook LinkedIn View source version on Contacts Media Relations Jane Lee Cheung+1 289 290 2393 (Canada)
