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New face for New Hazelton RCMP

The New Hazelton RCMP have added a few new faces to their detachment over the past few months and one of them is Constable Keith Lansdowne from Alert Bay.
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Constable Lansdowne was posted in the Hazeltons three months ago and said he is enjoying the small town feel.

The New Hazelton RCMP have added a few new faces to their detachment over the past few months and one of them is Constable Keith Lansdowne from Alert Bay.

Growing up in the midst of a First Nations community and learning his family’s traditional ways is something he holds close to his heart and still practices today in daily routines.

“I enjoy hunting and fishing and spent many years fishing commercially with my family,” he said. “I come from a big family in a small community so it feels a lot like home here in some ways.”

His background in education is seemingly as diverse as his upbringing and he is five years into a degree in psychology, which can help with being a member of the RCMP.

“Sometimes it allows me to see things from different points of views and perspectives when it comes to dealing with people,” he said.

Becoming a police officer is something that has been on his mind for a long time.

“I have wanted to be a police officer ever since I was a little boy,” he said. “I have plans to finish my degree but most likely that will be online as I don’t have any plans on giving up my job as an RCMP.”

While Hazelton is his first post out of the academy, it is one he requested.

“I lived in Calgary for a while and I learned I am really not a city person,” he said. “I didn’t like all the traffic and there were a lot of people. I am also not really into what the city has to offer and I’d rather be out in more remote areas and the country.”

Since his arrival three months ago he has already spent a great deal of time exploring what the Hazeltons and surrounding areas have to offer.

“They tell me to go out and explore, so I do,” he said. “I have been out hiking on a few local trails and found some good fishing. I have caught some pretty nice size trout and salmon too.”

As for where he has been fishing, that is already a secret he isn’t willing to give up, he said with a smile.

With three years ahead of him, Lansdowne said he is looking forward to his time here. He added he plans on doing a lot more exploring, taking some pictures of goats and other wildlife, as well as fishing and quading in his spare time. While he didn’t bring his snowmobile up with him, he is planning on buying a new one that can get him into the mountains.

When it comes to settling into a new detachment, he said that has been great too.

“They are a really great group of people here,” he said. “I’ve met good people in the community and in the detachment and I am settling in.”

His faithful companion - a three month old chocolate lab - he is training for duck hunting, and he hopes to stock up on other wild game this year too. For now, he is still learning the ropes and looking forward to meeting new people and exploring new places.