Eskasoni police officer receives national honour

Const. Duma Bernard is the school resource officer in the Eskasoni First Nation, Cape Breton, the largest Mi'kmaq-speaking community in the world.

Bernard grew up there.

After policing elsewhere for 20 years, he's spent the last 13 years back at home.

He received the prestigious national Imperial Order of the Daughters of the Empire RCMP Police Community Service Award.

As a national women's organization, the IODE annually honours an RCMP member, unit or detachment for exemplary public service to the community outside of regular duties. 

Passion and commitment

"I was shocked. I didn't even know I was up for an award," said Bernard.

He says there are many other deserving people. 

"If I was to judge," laughed Bernard, "I would have chose other people, because there's a lot of good people around once you look for them. They're doing great things."

He says his passion for young people and his commitment to making their lives better is more than a job to him, it's a life goal. 

"You teach them stuff that'll help better their lives, help them make better decisions, and hopefully, it works," he said.

In and out of school

Bernard was recognized for his work as a school resource officer, and for his involvement outside the classroom. 

That includes organizing a youth volunteer group that plans community events, shoveling snow for the elderly and serving community meals.

He says the kids want to volunteer and he makes sure there are things for them to do.

Bernard said he sees changes in students once they get involved and feel useful. 

"I believed this a long time ago: if you treat a kid like a criminal, they will become a criminal and if you treat a kid like a positive and productive member of society and they feel like a positive, productive member of society, they will become a positive, productive member of society."

Work has impact

Bernard teaches young people about road safety, the dangers of bullying and drugs. He also organizes basketball and floor hockey games several evenings a week.

He says children have told him they were able to get out of bad situations, based on what they learned from him.

He says he gets to see the direct impact of the work he and others in the community do, including a drop in the crime rate and children being more respectful. 

"If people think working with kids stops at three o'clock, you could never work with kids."

His wife and two children went with him to the ceremony in Toronto where he was presented the award. 

Rare company

"It meant a lot to me to have them there," Bernard said.

He said during the IODE presentations, others received awards for books and medical breakthroughs. 

"I was really impressed to be there. I was just honoured," he said. "I told them 'thank you.' I said, 'I don't really think I should be getting this, but I'm really grateful.'"

He says the award belongs to the entire Eskasoni community. 

"It's an award that they gave to me, but my goodness, I didn't do this myself," Bernard said.

"I work with so many partners, and then when I need help, they'll help me. We all help each other and it works good."

And he says, most of all, it's the young people and their initiative and desire to give back to their community.

"They just need a chance. They're like stars that need a chance to shine. You give them a chance to do something good, and they will."