Vancouver Division – COVID-19 Information
March 25, 2020
On behalf of your Division Executive, I wanted to pass on some information as we try to navigate the current world situation.
Some of you may be members of the RCMP Mates Facebook page and read a posting on the page this past weekend concerning a member of the Vancouver Division who was in critical condition in the Intensive Care Unit of Surrey Memorial Hospital having been diagnosed with COVID-19. Out of respect for the privacy of the member and his family, the member’s identity will not be posted in this message. We pray for the member’s recovery.
As tends to happen on social media, this news spread rapidly. National Director and Chief Advocate for the Veterans’ Association, Ruby Burns became involved and contacted our Division Advocate to obtain further information on the member. Ruby is in frequent contact with Sgt. Kim Hendricken, RCMP Liaison Officer to Veterans Affairs Canada. Kim advised that the Minister of Veterans Affairs inquires daily if any veterans have been afflicted with COVID-19. We have been advised the member’s family has been contacted and were most approciative of the information and support provided.
If you are aware of any ex-member of the Force, whether or not they are a member of the Veterans’ Association, who has been diagnosed with COVID-19 we would ask that you provide us with the identity of the member so that we can pass this information on through Ruby and Kim to the Association, the Force and Veterans Affairs Canada.
UPDATE (2020-03-25): The member remains in ICU although there has been some improvement in the member’s condition.
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Sgt. Veronica Fox, RCMP “E” Division provided the following RCMP external COVID-19 news pages which are now up. Please see http://www.rcmp.gc.ca/en/covid-19?fe & http://www.rcmp.gc.ca/fr/covid-19?fe
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Vancouver Division Associate Member and Retired VPD Member Brian Honeybourn (honeybourn@shaw.ca) asked that the following be passed on to you:
HELLO, MY FRIENDS, if you hear of ANY members out here, SURREY / LANGLEY, that need any help, I have had several retired VPD members offering to drive to appointments etc. or pick up food. We must stick together.
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As our monthly General Meetings have been cancelled until further notice, please check the Vancouver Division website for current information. (http://www.rcmpveteransvancouver.com/).
Take care of yourselves and stay safe and healthy.
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