HPS Students participate in launch of new Community Bear Program
When OPP officers come across a child who has been involved in a stressful or traumatic situation, Police say giving them an OPP Community Teddy Bear can help them regain a sense of calmness and security. Studies have shown that kids who spend a lot of time holding a stuffed animal tend to feel calmer and more secure, and that teddy bears can even help children cope with psychological trauma.
Thanks to a new partnership with the Ontario Provincial Police Association (OPPA) Credit Union, these bears will continue to be made available in communities across Ontario.
To celebrate this new partnership, an event was held on Friday at OPP General Headquarters in Orillia. Grade six students from Huntsville Public School were invited to attend a presentation about the program. They also had the opportunity to visit the OPP Museum, the Provincial Operations Centre and Fleet Services. Meeting OPP Canine Handlers and their four-legged partners was the highlight of their visit.
