The City of Edmonton Naming Committee designated the park after receiving a letter from Ruth Daney, a resident of the Brittania Youngstown neighbourhood, who felt that Sgt. Vallevand’s accomplishments needed to be recognized in the community. Ruth’s application was approved by the Naming Committee in 2016, and the park sign was installed in late 2017.
“Sgt. Maynard Vallevand and his police dog Sarge made an excellent team, and they dedicated their lives to fighting crime for the citizens of Edmonton,” says Ruth Daney. “Naming the park after Vallevand is a great way of recognizing his courage, strength and leadership.”
In 1963, Sgt. Vallevand proposed the idea of having canine teams support police investigations to Chief M.F.E. Anthony of the Edmonton Police Department. After demonstrating the training and effectiveness of his dog Sarge in apprehending a suspect in a drug warehouse break and enter, Vallevand and Sarge were regularly utilized by police on a call-out basis, and his efforts led to the formation of the Dog Squad in 1967.
“We are very proud of our Dad, his accomplishments, and how police have done so much to honour his memory,” says son David Vallevand. “To have a park named after him through the efforts of a private citizen is very special to us.”
Maynard Vallevand was born in Elbow, Saskatchewan in 1924. He was a strong, athletic, hardworking youth who joined the Canadian Army at 17 and fought as a paratrooper in World War II. After leaving the military, Maynard studied at Ontario College before becoming a member the Ontario Provincial Police.
In 1955, Maynard and his family moved to Edmonton where he joined the Edmonton Police Department. At the time, he already had a great devotion to training and raising dogs, so it was no surprise he became the department’s first canine handler. Sgt. Maynard and Monty (son of police dog Sarge) were one of the three dog teams in the original Dog Squad, and even after Vallevand retired in 1978, he continued to be involved with the Canine Unit and support its members.
Maynard Vallevand passed away in 1994. He is fondly remembered as the founder of the EPS Canine Unit, and for his many contributions, EPS named its kennel facility after him.
“Sgt. Vallevand was a well-respected officer who created a tradition of excellence in the EPS,” says Police Chief Rod Knecht. “His spirit continues to live on in the Canine Unit, and now his name will live on in the community as well.”
For more information on Sgt. Vallevand or the EPS Canine Unit, please visit the EPS website. Vallevand Park is located at 16448 – 104 A Avenue NW, and is legally described as Lot P, Block 5, Plan 4746KS, within the Britannia Youngstown Neighbourhood.
from Media Releases https://ift.tt/2K8diGI
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