A social networking site is being used to promote construction of the police college in Fort Macleod.
A page created on Facebook has more than 234 people signed up to show their support.
“This group is dedicated to supporters of the development of a single site, world class centre of excellence for the training of police and peace officers in the province of Alberta,” the introduction to the page reads.
The “Supporters of the Alberta Police and Peace Officers Training Centre” page can be found under groups at www.facebook.com.
The Facebook page provides a description of the project and its history.
“We ask for your support by joining this group to encourage the province to move forward immediately with this project, 10 years in the making, which supports the provincial government’s Safe Communities Initiative and will provide the highest level of training for enforcement officers for communities across this province,” the Facebook page states.
People are enthusiastic in their support for the police college.
“I am hoping that as you join this group, you will invite everyone in your friends list to join as well,” wrote Christine Renee Parkin of Calgary. “I’m hoping to see it gain momentum and have thousands of members.”
The Facebook page’s members include Fort Macleod residents such as Kate Glover, Dan DeGinnus, Michael Lavorato, Leslie Campbell and Taylor Yorgason. People from Lethbridge, Calgary, Medicine Hat, High River, Cardston, Edmonton, Kelowna, Vancouver, Saskatoon, Toronto, St. John, N.B., New Jersey and even Edinburgh, Scotland have also joined.
The Facebook page is the latest effort in Fort Macleod’s attempt to gather support for the province to build the police college.
In another recent development, area mayors and reeves voiced their support at the request of Fort Macleod Mayor Shawn Patience.
“Lethbridge Mayor Bob Tarleck’s motion that the mayors and reeves fully support development of the police college was passed unanimously,” Patience said.
That support will be expressed in a letter to Alberta Solicitor General Fred Lindsay.
Fort Macleod has also asked for a face-to-face meeting with Alberta Premier Ed Stelmach to discuss the project, which is stalled by a lack of money.