Today, the new Rocky Harbour Detachment of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police was the site of an official grand opening ceremony. RCMP Commissioner Brenda Lucki; Assistant Commissioner Ches Parsons, Commanding Officer of RCMP NL; District Policing Officer, Superintendent David Cook; and Northern Peninsula District Commander Sergeant David Cooper were joined by Gudie Hutchings, Member of Parliament for Long Range Mountains; Premier Andrew Furey, Member of the House of Assembly for Humber-Gros Morne; John Hogan, Minister of Justice and Public Safety; Tony Major, Mayor of Rocky Harbour, RCMP employees, other elected representatives and invitees. Today's event included the singing of O Canada and the Ode to Newfoundland by Emma MacEachern and a blessing of the new building by Pastor Ryan Ball with the Gros Morne Community Church.
"I am absolutely delighted to be in beautiful Rocky Harbour for the grand opening of this new addition to the RCMP infrastructure," said Commissioner Lucki. "I commend all who were involved in bringing the vision for this new detachment to fruition. It is a well-designed facility that reflects the RCMP's commitment to modernization and our connection to the communities we serve and protect."
The new detachment was constructed at a project cost of $6.8 million, funded at 70 per cent by the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador and 30 per cent by the Government of Canada. Located at 28 West Link Road, the new facility features state-of-the-art design and replaces the previous detachment which was over 50 years old.
"The Detachment building has always served as a symbol of the relationship we have with the communities in which we serve," said Assistant Commissioner Ches Parsons. "We are proud of the connections we have created and strengthened with the residents, councils and local community groups across the Rocky Harbour Detachment area. I thank all who joined us for today's grand opening."
The new Rocky Harbour RCMP Detachment became operational in April 2021. Features of the new 635-square-meter Net Zero Carbon Ready building include state-of-the-art thermal design, automated lighting and plumbing fixtures, and a flexible design concept that will allow for future additions and renovations. The detachment also features a fully functional cell pavilion with secure cells, a breath-testing and fingerprinting area, and a secure bay for prisoner transfers.
RCMP employees led project management for the new detachment, with construction by Brook Construction out of Corner Brook. The building's design was adapted from an original Atlantic Region design first used in this province for the Whitbourne Detachment by Stantec Architecture & Engineering in St. John's. This is the third detachment of this type in Newfoundland and Labrador and serves as a template for future RCMP detachment projects in Newfoundland and Labrador.
RCMP officers work out of the detachment seven days a week. Front-counter service is available to the public Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. To contact the Rocky Harbour Detachment, call 709-458-2222.