The Carlyle detachment of the RCMP have recently welcomed a new member. The new officer, Constable Ryan Drozdiak, graduated from training on April 2 and after a quick trip home to British Columbia he packed up his things and came to Carlyle.
Originally from Port Coquitlam, Drozdiak has always been drawn to the RCMP.
"I'd actually applied when I was 20 and they recommended I gain a bit more life experience first, which is understandable," Drozdiak explained.
Drozdiak is now 30-years-old, making his dream of becoming an RCMP member a reality 10 years after first applying.
During these 10 years Drozdiak found himself at University of Alberta (U of A) for four years, which was followed by becoming an owner/operator of a Booster Juice in Kitsalano, B.C.
The change is exciting for Drozdiak.
"I find I get bored with repetitive jobs fairly easily and with this you're continually learning. Others here have three, five, 11 years experience and still say they are learning and asking questions every day," Drozdiak said.
He is not only excited to finally be in the profession he had always been drawn to, but was glad to have been posted in Carlyle.
While at the Depot where RCMP members train they request a province and list approximately 12 different detachments from here, which is known as a "wish list." This is because you join the RCMP knowing you may be placed anywhere in Canada, though the RCMP do attempt to be accommodating with this wish list.
"Most of my choices were for the middle and northern parts of the province with one, Carlyle, in the southeast," Drozdiak stated.
As luck would have it, Drozdiak, was placed in Carlyle where Constable Tanya Gordon is also located. Gordon and Drozdiak actually went to school together at the U of A, so the placement made Drozdiak that much more eager to begin his new profession.
"It's a great detachment and the reputation preceded it," Drozdiak explained. "We got our placements and when people found out I was in Carlyle there were good things said about it."
"My trainer's [Clarence Wagner] great, he, basically everybody told me I was lucky to have him; but, I'm not going to tell him that," Drozdiak laughed.
Drozdiak already feels part of the community and has received a warm welcome. He is quite excited about learning from Wagner and has found small town life very suitable.
"I think that even though I'm from a bigger city, I'm comfortable in smaller towns as well," Drozdiak explained. "I can appreciate all of the benefits like the traffic; but, especially the feeling of being connected. In a big city you're around people constantly, but you can still feel isolated."
