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CTV News
25 minutes ago
- CTV News
Ex-teacher turned cop connects with Sault students in liaison role
As the 2024–25 school year concluded, Const. Lyndsey Pilkington of the Sault Ste. Marie Police Service reflected on her inaugural year as the city's High School Liaison Officer – a role revitalized last fall through a renewed partnership between local police and school boards. Pilkington, a former teacher turned nine-year police veteran, has spent the past eight months bridging gaps between youth, educators, and law enforcement, emphasizing trust and community over enforcement. A role reborn: From classroom to hallways Pilkington's appointment in November 2024 marked the return of a full-time liaison officer to Sault Ste. Marie's schools after the program had been halted prior to the pandemic. The position, jointly funded by the Algoma District School Board and Huron-Superior Catholic District School Board, serves five high schools, blending crime prevention with mentorship. Pilkington talks with school boards Const. Lyndsey Pilkington's first meeting with the two Sault-area school boards that partnered with the Sault Ste. Marie Police Service to restart the High School Liaison Officer program in November 2024. (Supplied/Sault Ste. Marie Police Service) 'Connecting with youth has always been a focus of mine, whether in the classroom or in uniform,' Pilkington wrote in a blog post reflecting on her first school year in the role last month. Her dual background proved pivotal: 'This opportunity was the perfect fit for me.' Breaking barriers: 'Showing up as a human first' Initial skepticism from students – a challenge Pilkington anticipated – gave way to trust through consistent engagement. 'Policing can come with preconceived notions,' she said, but transparency and casual interactions, like handing out free Frosters coupons for positive behavior, helped dismantle barriers. Operation Freeze For a school project, Gracelyn had to interview a community helper, she chose Const. Lyndsey Pilkington. As a thank you, she received a sweet treat: a coupon for a free Froster from Circle K as part of the Sault Ste. Marie Police Service's Operation Freeze. (Sault Ste. Marie Police Service/Instagram) By year's end, Pilkington noted she 'exceeded even [her] own expectations' in building relationships. Highlights included mediating conflicts, celebrating graduations, and connecting students with community resources. 'It's about more than just being present,' she wrote. 'It's acting as a bridge.' Chain of Life - Sault As Students Against Impaired Driving Week came to a close on May 16, 2025, students from White Pines Collegiate & Vocational School visited Sault Police at Division 2 to take a photo with their 'Chain of Life' - a powerful visual project made up of pledges from students across local high schools and elementary schools who have committed to not driving impaired or distracted. (Supplied/Sault Ste. Marie Police Service) Community impact: Small gestures, big ripples The liaison role's success hinged on visibility. Pilkington attended school events, posed for photos, and leveraged initiatives like Circle K's 'Operation Freeze' to reward good behavior. Algoma District School Board Education Director Lucia Reece praised the program's revival when it was announced, citing 'stronger relationships between students and police.' For Pilkington, the rewards were personal: 'Watching this year's graduates cross the stage, knowing I'll meet a new group in September, reminded me why this role matters – for safety and community'. Sault elementary track meet volunteers Const. Lyndsey Pilkington stopped into observe a local elementary school track and field meet in Sault Ste. Marie in June 2025 and observed some familiar faces volunteering from the high schools she serves. (Sault Ste. Marie Police Service/Instagram) Looking ahead: A foundation for the future With summer underway, Pilkington anticipates her second year, buoyed by support from school boards and the police service, who called the partnership 'a critical step in rebuilding trust'. Pilkington - pickleball High School Liaison Officer, Const. Lyndsey Pilkington, having a great time playing pickleball with students from the Kina Awiiya Secondary Program and Prince Charles Secondary School at the Waterfront Adventure Centre in June 2025. (Sault Ste. Marie Police Service/Instagram) 'Thank you to everyone who welcomed me,' Pilkington concluded. 'I'm already looking forward to another great year.'
CTV News
26 minutes ago
- CTV News
Search for another Vancouver Island boa constrictor prompts warning about exotic pets
Inspector Drew Milne of the British Columbia Conservation Officer Service likened it to finding a needle in a haystack — the haystack being a 137-hectare park on Vancouver Island, and the needle being a 1.5-metre-long boa constrictor. But searchers for the snake had a reliable witness, and cool conditions last week in the area suggested it was unlikely the cold-blooded reptile could have slithered far from where it was seen in Miracle Beach Provincial Park, about 250 kilometres northwest of Victoria. 'We narrowed down a location where we felt it probably would have been based upon our understanding of the snake, its behaviour, and the location,' said Milne, describing how the snake was found last Thursday. 'We found it within seconds. I had just grabbed that snake and was pulling it out of the bush.' Bizarrely, it's the second search for a boa constrictor on Vancouver Island in the past month, after a 1.8-metre boa named Bailey was reported missing at Tofino's Chesterman Beach in early June. It was found a few days later in the owner's kayak. The unusual cases have prompted a warning from Sara Dubois, the British Columbia SPCA's senior director for animal welfare science, who said owning an exotic pet came with special responsibilities. She said the Miracle Beach snake might have escaped its owner but there was the 'horrible' possibility that someone might have dumped the animal deliberately. 'The snake doesn't deserve that, and these animals should never be pets,' said Dubois, adding that it's hard to rehome them and the SPCA does not recommend exotic snakes as pets. 'They're wild animals in other countries, so to breed them in captivity and sell them, as this special kind of unique pet, unfortunately, doesn't always end very well.' Dubois said buyers might not realize a boa constrictor can live 30 years, and they require special vet care and equipment. 'So, they just might have been an impulse buy, or just decided, 'hey, this is not fun anymore,' and they just decided to dump it,' said Dubois. Milne, who served in the Canadian Armed Forces for six years before joining the B.C. Conservation Officer Service, said he wasn't scared catching the boa, but he hoped that searching for snakes on the island 'is not a trend.' Boa constrictors are categorized as restricted controlled alien species in B.C., meaning that while ownership doesn't require a permit, release is prohibited under any circumstances. If the snake is longer than three metres, ownership and the movement of the animal require permits. Milne, who is in charge of the West Coast region at the B.C. Conservation Officer Service, said officers are investigating whether the Miracle Beach animal was dumped or got loose accidentally before it was spotted by someone staying at the park's campground on June 25. 'The individual is quite educated in the field of biology, and realized that that's not a normal species that should be found on Vancouver Island or in a provincial park,' Milne said. Park staff and conservation officers temporarily closed the park the next day and turned visitors away to conduct a 'hasty search.' Once located, the boa was put in a crate and taken to Comox Valley SPCA. The reptile is now up for adoption after no one came forward to claim it. It will require a 'very unique, special' owner to adopt it, said Dubois This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 3, 2025. Nono Shen, The Canadian Press
CTV News
an hour ago
- CTV News
Sightseers flock to catch a glimpse of a baby seal near Montreal
Locals flocked to a pier in Oka, Quebec after a baby seal was spotted in the area. Genevieve Beauchemin on why the sighting sparked concern from marine experts.
