The Moose Jaw Police Service’s Donna Blondeau was instrumental in growing the Victim Services program and bringing the trauma assistance dog program to Saskatchewan, but after 33 years with the agency, she will soon hang up her badge.
Blondeau has been the Victim Services co-ordinator since 1994, while she has been the handler of Kane, an accredited facility dog from the Pacific Assistance Dog Society (PADS), since he arrived on May 28, 2015.
Their last working day with the Moose Jaw Police Service (MJPS) is July 21, while their official retirement date is Aug. 31.
“It’s coming up fast. When I first thought about it (retirement), I thought, ‘Well, I don’t know if that’s the right move.’ But the more I thought about it, the more I realized that I’ve been doing this for a very long time,” Blondeau said recently.
Blondeau — born and raised in Moose Jaw — spent six years working with offenders before going back to school to upgrade her education. She then returned and became co-ordinator, a position she held for more than 27 years.
This transition to retirement is exciting for Blondeau since it’s a new phase of life but also saddening since she enjoyed working with many great people.
“I’ve been doing this job for over 30 years working in the justice system. I’ve come to the point in my life where somebody else can come in and take over. The programs are both running well … ,” she said. “I don’t want to stay to the point where I’m burned out and I am not able to help victims.”
Meanwhile, Kane will be nine years old when he retires, so he still has a few good years left. Blondeau wants him to have some fun and relaxation in retirement.
“I think we’re going to be fine,” she added.
Blondeau plans to retire to a community north of Moose Jaw — not northern Saskatchewan, as previously reported — to be closer to family.
Creation of Victim Services
The Victim Services program was relatively new in Saskatchewan in the early 1990s, as Saskatoon, Regina and Yorkton were the only communities running it.
Blondeau brought the program to Moose Jaw in 1994. Around 1998, the MJPS and Moose Jaw RCMP signed a memorandum of understanding that saw Victim Services provide support to the rural areas.
The provincial program now covers 100 per cent of Saskatchewan.
Blondeau has seven volunteers who support the Victim Services program. However, they have been away from police headquarters twice for long periods during the pandemic. Yet, she has asked them to come back now that the situation is improving. Their return would take a large load off Blondeau’s shoulders since it has been wearing her down.
“Some of them are very happy to be coming back. They’ll come back gradually,” she added.
A dog’s life
Blondeau had the idea to create a facilities assistance dog program after learning about a similar initiative in Delta, British Columbia. She thought this was a great concept that was forward-thinking with supporting victims.
Her request to bring the program to Moose Jaw gained traction in 2014 after she spoke with Police Chief Rick Bourassa and suggested that the Saskatchewan Association of Chiefs of Police discuss this during its annual meeting in Moose Jaw.
A presentation from the woman running the program in Delta sealed the deal.
“Our chief of police, Chief Bourassa, came out of the meeting and said, ‘We’re getting a dog,’” Blondeau said.
Regina and Weyburn are the only police forces besides Moose Jaw to have this trauma assistance dog program in Saskatchewan, even though it was offered to every law agency in the province.
“I knew that it was going to work in our community. I knew it would be a huge commitment because being primary handler for the dog that can work up to seven years, it’s basically like a 24/7 (commitment),” Blondeau said. “But I knew the benefits would outweigh any work I would have to do with the dog.”
Supporting people
Having Kane has been beneficial since he has provided a steady, calming influence while attending activities, events, ceremonies and court sessions. They also travelled to Humboldt to support families affected by the bus crash.
Blondeau believes Kane has helped more than 1,000 families, adults and children since he arrived in 2015.
To help the community better understand Kane’s role, Blondeau wrote a book in 2020 called “Kane’s Tale.” The book — distributed for free to roughly 2,500 children in both school divisions — was designed to put kids at ease if they visited the police station and remind families that the canine was available if necessary.
“I’m proud to say I think we’ve surpassed any expectations I had when I first got him,” she said. “He can help break the ice and make things a little easier for people going through a difficult time … . For a lot of people, touching him and hugging him and petting him and holding his leash makes all the difference.”
A well-trained coach
Blondeau was always motivated to train while on the job, she said. During her time with the MJPS, she acquired a certificate in human resources and a bachelor of psychology, learned how to better support people experiencing trauma, and better understood how to handle critical stress incidents.
All this knowledge has allowed her to be a coach, mentor, trainer and guide to the volunteers of the Victim Services program.
Blondeau’s efforts over the years have not gone unnoticed. She has received the Saskatchewan Medal via the Ministry of Justice and the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal from the MJPS.
Oh, the memories
The memories that stand out for Blondeau are those that involved the people she supported, the lifelong friendships she developed at the police station, her work with other emergency personnel, and residents who helped in traumatic situations.
Blondeau didn’t take on the job for the money, she said, but wanted to listen to victims, provide guidance, and support them during their worst days.
“I’ve met some fantastic people … ,” she added. “We have some amazing people in this community.”
