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Reflecting back on six and a half years of service with the Quesnel RCMP

Const. Jennifer Tate fondly reflects on her time in Quesnel as she prepares to relocate to Armstrong
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Quesnel RCMP Const. and First Nations liaison Jennifer Tate is relocating to Armstrong, B.C., after serving the Quesnel community for the past six and a half years. (Sasha Sefter - Quesnel Cariboo Observer)

RCMP constable and First Nations liaison officer Jennifer Tate reflects back on her six and a half years working and living in Quesnel as she prepares to relocate to Armstrong, B.C.

Tate began her RCMP career in Quesnel, working four years in general duty frontline policing before taking the role of First Nations liaison, a role she feels was a rewarding one that brought her even closer to all communities in and around Quesnel.

“Quesnel has four First Nations communities within our patrol area,” said Tate. “I was aware of the communities prior to becoming the First Nations liaison, but going into that position, you really get to work with those communities one on one — you get to see and meet the people in those communities and learn about them and build relationships and a bond, and that was amazing and it is an awesome job to have.”

Tate says she was inspired early on in life to learn more about law and became determined to serve as a member of the RCMP.

“To be honest with you, it was a law 12 class in high school that my teacher spoke very fondly of the police, and I loved the law class in general, and I was just intrigued from that moment on,” said Tate.

Tate says that with the COVID-19 pandemic keeping most of the community safely behind closed doors and socially distant, it has been difficult to say goodbye to the many community members she has served and formed strong bonds with over the years.

“It has been tough because given COVID-19, it’s been hard to announce and let people know that I’m leaving because nobody’s really around,” said Tate. “So as I’ve been seeing people, I’ve been telling them and people are hearing through the grapevine that I am leaving, and I’ve been getting many kind words, which is very nice. It has been bittersweet to say the least.”

Tate has grown roots in the Quesnel community, not only in her professional life, but also in her home life, and she says she and her children will miss the community and the beauty of Quesnel and the surrounding areas.

“I am going to miss the people I can tell you that,” she said. “Right now, I work with so many amazing people within the detachment and the community, and I am going to miss that and them dearly. This community is great. I have raised my kids for quite a few years here, and their community bond is really strong as well, so I have those links outside of work as well, which I am going to miss. We are pretty rooted here, so it is going to be tough to say goodbye.”

Tate is headed to Armstrong, where she will once again be providing frontline general duty police service to the community with the local RCMP detachment. While she is sad to say goodbye to a community she loves, she is excited for her new opportunity and to continue serving whichever community in which she may reside.

“I can say confidently that Quesnel is a great community,” said Tate. “It’s a great place to work, you learn a lot, you see a lot, you do a lot, it’s a busy little spot, and it will be sadly missed, and it will be interesting and exciting to see what my new opportunity brings because you don’t really know until you get there.”

READ MORE: Quesnel RCMP launches Online Crime Reporting tool



editor@quesnelobserver.com

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