Team Ten Eight

Wally Oppal is a former trial attorney who has served as a special prosecutor on numerous high profile commercial crime and drug offences and more than 50 homicide cases.

He served as a judge in the County Court of British Columbia from 1981 to 1985, and in the B.C. Supreme Court from 1985 to 2003, when he was appointed to the B.C. Court of Appeal.

He has led two commissions of inquiry into policing in British Columbia, including the Missing Women Inquiry following one of BCs most notorious serial murder investigations, and has authored reports that have advocated for and led to many reforms in policing both in British Columbia and across Canada.

Between 2005 and 2009 he served as the Attorney General of British Columbia and appointed commissions of inquiry into the police use of tasers, following the aftermath of the death of a man at Vancouver International Airport, and into the death of an Indigenous man, who died as a result of being left in an alley by police in Vancouver.

More recently, he was asked by the government of BC to chair the task force that established the framework for the transition of policing services in Surrey, BC from the RCMP to the Surrey Police Service and he remains in active legal practice as Senior Counsel with Boughton Law where he provides strategic advice on dispute resolution and public sector related matters.
On this episode, Wally shares his thoughts on the oft discussed but yet to be implemented regional policing model for Metro Vancouver; his role in laying out the mammoth task of transitioning from the RCMP's largest detachment to a municipal police service; and weighs in on BC's latest social experiment, the decriminalization of personal drug possession.

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Jas Dhillon, a former professional football player and current police officer, shares his journey from the football field to law enforcement. He discusses the excitement of draft day and the challenges he faced transitioning from a defensive player to an offensive lineman. Jas highlights the importance of teamwork, resilience, and determination in both football and policing. He emphasizes the need for effective communication and building trust with the public, especially in diverse communities. Jas also reflects on his personal experiences with the police and the cultural differences that can impact interactions with law enforcement.

In this conversation, Jas Dhillon, a police officer, discusses his experiences with law enforcement and the community. He shares how his South Asian background and proud military history influenced his decision to become a police officer. Jas emphasizes the importance of positive interactions, trust, and respect in building relationships with the community. He also highlights the significance of effective communication, humility, and listening in achieving the platinum standard as a police officer. Jas shares stories of his worst and best calls, showcasing the emotional impact of the job. Overall, he emphasizes the importance of teamwork, culture, and mentorship in law enforcement.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Football Career

06:14 Transition from Football to Policing

12:54 Lessons from Football Applied to Policing

20:15 Building Trust with the Public

26:36 Personal Experience with Police and Cultural Differences

30:26 Interactions with Law Enforcement

31:17 Proud Military History

32:08 Positive Interactions with the Community

33:08 Policing in the Neighborhood

34:37 Building Trust and Respect

35:17 Achieving the Platinum Standard

36:13 Continued Learning and Growth

37:35 Effective Communication and Respect

38:21 Humility and Listening

39:05 Being Heard and Treated with Decency

40:24 Dealing with Newcomers and Long-Time Residents

41:31 Recognized as a Police Officer

42:04 Connecting with the Community

43:15 Teamwork and Leadership

44:17 Importance of Communication and Culture

48:10 Field Training and Mentorship

49:08 Worst and Best Calls

55:26 Family History and Sikh Culture

57:04 Connecting with Jas Dhillon

58:41 Appreciation for Service
To follow or connect with Jas check out the links below:
Instagram: @jdhillon54
Email: [email protected]

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In this conversation, Necole Belanger shares her experiences as an openly gay woman in the Canadian Armed Forces. Necole talks about the importance of language skills in the military and the respect given to French-speaking troops. She reflects on the French-English question in the military and the challenges faced by Francophone members. Necole also discusses the impact of the Purge, a period of discrimination against LGBTQ+ individuals in the military. She shares her personal journey of self-acceptance and the trauma she experienced. Necole highlights the need for change and allyship in the military to address gender disparities and discrimination. In this conversation, Necole Belanger shares her experiences in the military and the challenges she faced as a woman and a member of the LGBTQ+ community. She highlights the importance of mentors and supportive figures throughout her career. Necole also discusses the difficulties she encountered in speaking out about her experiences and finding support. She shares her motivation for writing her book 'Pride Amid Prejudice' and the cathartic process it provided. Necole emphasizes the need for change and inclusivity in the Canadian Armed Forces and offers advice to her younger self.

Takeaways

• The Purge was a period of discrimination against LGBTQ+ individuals in the military, and its effects continue to impact those who experienced it.
• Self-acceptance and seeking help are crucial for individuals who have faced trauma and discrimination.
• Gender disparities and discrimination still exist in the military, and there is a need for change and allyship to create a more inclusive and equitable environment. Mentors and supportive figures play a crucial role in one's career development and success.
• Speaking out about personal experiences can be challenging but can also lead to finding support and making a positive impact.
• Senior appointments can present unique challenges, including biases and lack of support.
• Standing up for oneself and refusing to accept unfair treatment is important for personal growth and change.
• Writing can be a cathartic process and a way to share one's story and inspire others.
• It is important to create a culture of inclusivity and support in the military and other organizations.
• Reflecting on one's experiences and offering advice to one's younger self can provide valuable insights and lessons learned.

Chapters
00:00
Introduction
03:20
Joining the Military and Language Skills
07:03
The French-English Question in the Military
09:05
The Dual Language System in the Military
12:36
Early Desire to Join the Military
16:12
Coming Out and Family Rejection
23:20
The Purge and Discrimination
25:54
Trauma and Seeking Help
34:03
Challenges Faced as a Woman in the Military
39:37
Gender Disparity in the Military
45:12
Reconciliation and Allies
46:18
Mentors and Supportive Figures
48:11
Speaking Out and Fin

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Calvin Chrustie, a former senior operations officer with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, discusses the importance of navigating the threats, risks, and challenges of the contemporary world. He highlights the convergence of threats and the weaponization of activities by foreign threat actors, which he refers to as hybrid warfare.

The conversation covers various topics related to the challenges and issues faced by Canada, particularly in relation to fentanyl and toxic drug deaths. It highlights the ineffectiveness of current approaches, the weaponization of fentanyl, societal indifference towards drug deaths, lack of interconnectivity and collaboration, concerns for the future of Canada, the role of politicians in addressing the issues, concerns of business leaders, advice for aspiring politicians, and the need for self-reflection and courage. The conversation emphasizes the importance of understanding and addressing these issues for the well-being and security of Canada.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction
01:15 Background and Interest in National Security
11:36 Convergence of Threats and Hybrid Warfare
22:43 Factors Contributing to Canada's Blind Eye
28:04 Comparison of CSIS Mandate with Other Intelligence Agencies
29:24 Lack of Legislative Changes to Address Contemporary Threats
29:52 The Ineffectiveness of Current Approaches
31:16 The Weaponization of Fentanyl
32:21 Toxic Drug Deaths and Societal Indifference
36:26 Lack of Interconnectivity and Collaboration
37:26 Concerns for the Future of Canada
40:21 The Role of Politicians in Addressing the Issues
45:08 Concerns of Business Leaders
50:04 Advice for Aspiring Politicians
55:24 The Need for Self-Reflection and Courage
56:10 Conclusion and Contact Information

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Elenore Sturko is Canadian Armed Forces and Royal Canadian Mounted Police veteran who has served in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, and in Langley and Surrey, British Columbia.
In 2022, she was successful in her bid for a seat in BC’s legislature representing the riding of Surrey-South and now serves as a Member of the Legislative Assembly and Shadow Minister for Mental Health, Addiction, Recovery and Education.
On this episode, we discuss the challenges and differences between policing in rural northern communities and large urban centres, whether enough is being done to combat drug overdoses in BC, and how her bid to amend BC’s Mental Health Act proposes to help doctors make better decisions when treating patients in crisis.

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