West Division Patrol Station officially opens
Posted Feb 26, 2010 By Theresa Fritz
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Theresa Fritz, Kanata EMC
Police chief Vern White, police services board chair and councillor Eli El-Chantiry and mayor Larry O'Brien unveil the sign at the official opening of the new West Division Patrol Station on Friday, Feb. 19.
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EMC News - Bigger, greener and designed to meet the needs of a growing community.
Theresa Fritz, Kanata EMC
Police chief Vern White, police services board chair Eli El-Chantiry and mayor Larry O'Brien cut the ribbon to officially open the new West Division Patrol Station.
That's probably the best way to describe the new Ottawa Police Service West Division Patrol Station, which was officially opened at 211 Huntmar Dr. in Stittsville-Kanata West last Friday. The single-storey building is 41,000 square feet in size, sits on 5.6 acres of land and has more than 200 parking spaces.
A number of dignitaries and invited guests took part in the opening, which was followed the next day by a community open house.
Ottawa Police Chief Vern White, Police Services Board chair and Ward 5 West Carleton-March councillor Eli El-Chantiry and mayor Larry O'Brien addressed those in attendance and took part in the ribbon-cutting ceremony. They also witnessed the burying of a time capsule in the front foyer of the station which is to be opened again in 2040. Among the items including inside is a photo of the late Const. Eric Czapnik, 51, who was stabbed to death while on duty Dec. 29.
In fact, a moment of silence was observed at the start of the official opening ceremony in his memory as well as for police retiree John Hodgins who died the day before.
El-Chantiry was the first to speak, commenting on how the facility meets both the strategic and operational needs of the police service. His primary focus was on the environmental design of the building and the police service's commitment to 'green' issues.
"This new West Division Patrol Station, as we call it, has several environmentally-friendly features including the roof, the use of a water cistern, and in the heating and lighting systems," El-Chantiry noted. "Throughout the process, we had one goal in mind the whole time - how to achieve our 'Silver" LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certification)."
While he noted that Silver is "great", Gold is better and that will be the goal for the next patrol station set for the south end of the city.
O'Brien said the new facility will support the police service as it continues, under the leadership of White, to provide top-notch service to the residents of Ottawa. The mayor said the patrol station "can anticipate the needs of a growing west end in the City of Ottawa but also providing the officers on the road and in the field with a haven to come and be trained and to act as an operating base."
He also spoke about partnerships that will be created by the facility and stressed the city has joined with artist Erin Robertson, whose acrylic on resin panels entitled 'Night Patrol' looms large over the front foyer.
It is a composite night scene of photographs Robertson took while on patrol with an Ottawa Police constable.
OPERATIONS
White spoke about the operational role of the building, which cost around $21.6 million to build.
"This is an important day for us in our efforts to continuously grow to serve and deliver to the community," White said. "We stand here this afternoon after three years of consultation, planning and construction."
The chief pointed out that even though the building is greener, the police service will never be any less blue.
"This new building...is a welcome addition to the west end of Ottawa and provides our service with the capacity and the capability to meet the needs of the residents of this end of the city," White continued. "By building this station, the Ottawa Police Services Board and the City of Ottawa have invested in a visible and accessible presence in the west end to meet community and police needs for years to come. And while the reason for being here today is the building opening, let's not forget that it is really about the people who are working here - 24 hours a day - that are the heart of what we do at the Ottawa Police Service."
The police chief also took the opportunity to recognize all those who were involved in the project - from the architects to members of the police service.
"It (West Division Patrol Station) is a superb example of teamwork and reaching a goal that reflects our commitment to both our members and the community we serve."
COMMUNITY REACTION
Community member and Kanata resident Victor McNabney spoke on behalf of the community. Having lived in Kanata for 26 years, he said he and his family have seen many changes over that time not just in the community but in policing.
He noted he is pleased to see that the "whole capability of the West Division is in a single building" and noted "this patrol station is our new neighbour."
Following the speeches, the plaque for the building was unveiled and a time capsule was buried in the floor of the front foyer.
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