Alex Decoteau continues to encourage students

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The light rain didn't dampen the spirits of organizers and more than 1,000 students from kindergarten to Grade 9 that participated in the fourth annual Alex Decoteau Run held at Rundle Park on May 14.

Students from Delton, Eastwood, McCauley, Norwood, Parkdale, John A. McDougall, Spruce Avenue and Crestwood schools all ran in honor of Alex Decoteau, a Cree athlete who became Canada's first Aboriginal police officer in 1909.

Decoteau was also the first Aboriginal to attain the rank of sergeant in 1912 while working for the Edmonton Police Service. This was after he returned from competing in the 5,000 metre race at the Stockholm Olympics.

Decoteau joined the Canadian army in 1916, and on Oct. 30, 1917 was killed by a sniper at the Battle of Passchendaele.

All the schools involved with this year's run in his honor, with the exception of Crestwood, are part of the City Centre Education Project.

"This is a partnership between various agencies within Edmonton, and Edmonton Police Service being one of them," said Const. Sharon Bourque, who is a school resource officer with five of the schools involved in the City Centre Education Project. "It started as the idea to recognize Alex Decoteau for being an Aboriginal policeman and it's really grown, and personally, I envision it growing bigger, and maybe for it to become an annual event within the province."

The day started with opening ceremonies by the White Buffalo Dancers and Drummers Society, who will be going to Korea in early June to attend the International Folklore Festival there.

"(Decoteau's) story has enriched my life by encouraging me to know more about him and about this run," said Christine Frederick, youth program co-ordinator for the society. "It gives the kids a sense that they're here together as Edmontonians, as Canadians, and realize that this community is theirs, they are a part of it. They have the ability to make a contribution in a similar way that Alex Decoteau did."

Charlotte Cameron is a teacher at Eastwood School. Cameron helped to organize the original run that took place four years ago. She said the run always made youth, organizers and volunteers proud and happy about themselves, but it is even more important now that Decoteau has been named one of Edmonton's top 100 citizens of the century.

"The minute you talk to the students about the run they are so inspired. A lot of people here wrote letters of support for him. He's a great role model," said Cameron. "It makes the children actively involved in the story and it also helps them set a goal for themselves and to dream."

Coralee Fergus is a Grade 5 teacher at Delton Elementary School and she said that when you look at the goals Decoteau had in life and how hard he worked he really is a role model anyone can look up to.

"The teachers are always looking for role models for their students and I think Alex Decoteau is a fantastic role model. He was an athlete, he was a police officer and he served our country in the war. We have a high population of Aboriginal students in our schools so we are always looking for role models, not only for them but for all of our students," said Fergus. "It is more of a celebration. It's more of a celebration of being fit and active and having a healthy lifestyle."

Members of the Edmonton Police service pipe band will also be traveling overseas to France and Belgium in June as well.

"This year is the 60th anniversary of Normandy, of D-Day, so that's why we're going, and we're going all the way over there we might as well go to Belgium," said EPS sergeant Jeff Wilks, who is also a member of the EPS pipe band. "We're all the way over there. How can we not go to his grave site?"

The fastest time for the five kilometres run was from McCauley Grade 9 student Geng Tian who finished in 20 minutes, 19 seconds. The second fastest time was posted by a Grade 5 student from Crestwood, Laura Rosman, who ran the five kilometres in 21minutes, four seconds.