Today the Thunder Bay Police Service headquarters, at 1200 Balmoral Street, was the site of a special cedar ceremony.
The ceremony was arranged by members of the TBPS’s Community Inclusion Team. Much of the work was made possible by Cst. Bob Simon, Cst. Niaomi Fillier, and Sgt. Julie Tilbury with guidance and leadership from CIT coordinator CM Jan Ritchie. Every step of this process came with support from TBPS leadership.
As CM Ritchie explains, the cedar is meant to provide our members and visitors with positive energy, good fortune and safety. Following the ceremony, cedar was hung at the entrances and exits of the police headquarters. The remaining of the harvested cedar is being provided to civilian and sworn members to be hung at their work stations.
We’d like to offer gratitude to Elder Gene Nowegejick who led today’s ceremony. A special thank you also goes to Marcel Bananish who provided the ceremony with the big drum and songs. Gloria Ranger provided some of the traditional foods used during the ceremonial feast.
Thank you to CM Ritchie and Cst. Simon and Cst. Fillier who harvested the cedar yesterday for the ceremony and our members.
Please note that the accompanying video and photographs were taken before and after the ceremony. The actual ceremony was not captured.