Ever since she was in grade 6, Darcie Augustine has wanted to be a police officer. "Honestly, I really like the idea of being able to help people out and being able to do good things in the places where I live…and where I hope to live," she says. In 2024, Darcie took a huge step to realizing her dream by becoming the very first woman candidate from Prince Edward Island to join the RCMP's Indigenous Pre-Cadet Training Program.
Each year, up to 32 Indigenous young adults get an introduction to the possibilities of a career with the RCMP, and to experience training at RCMP Depot in Saskatchewan, through the Indigenous Pre-Cadet Training Program (IPTP). For three weeks, they learn what it's like working as a police officer, the ins-and-outs of RCMP training and how to prepare for the force's fitness test. Throughout their stay, participants, aged 19 to 29, learn about various RCMP career specializations, study policing techniques and meet with Indigenous RCMP officers from across Canada. They earn a stipend for the duration of the program, and their room and board costs are covered. Since the program's launch in 1994, approximately 50 participants have become RCMP officers and two dozen more work for the RCMP as civilian members or public service employees.
Darcie is from the Lennox Island First Nation, on PEI, and was contacted by Constable Amy Handrahan who works as the RCMP Liaison Officer for the community. "When Cst. Handrahan told me about the IPTP and the opportunities it could open up for me, I jumped at it," says Darcie. "I really learned, from my experience at Depot, that this is exactly what I want to do for my career," she adds. Certainly, the application process takes time, but Darcie will be the first person to tell you it's worth the wait. There are personal and background checks that will be conducted, interviews with RCMP members and staff, all aimed at ensuring there is a good fit between the candidates and the program.
"I loved my experience at Depot," says Darcie. "We learned so much, the staff were very helpful, the chance to live in the dorms and live day-to-day as if we were actually in training, really opened my eyes and answered so many of my questions." The three weeks at Depot are meant to guide candidates, show them what is expected of them and give them some real-life training experience.
Over the course of the summer, Darcie was contracted to work with the RCMP in her home community and also had the chance to experience other aspects of RCMP policing on the Island. She engaged in a great deal of community activities, helped out with the Lennox Island Conservation group, often worked closely with Cst. Handrahan, and got a chance to attend SOMMO, a large music festival, where RCMP provide policing services to the community of Cavendish where the festival is held. This gave Darcie a great chance to meet other RCMP members and experience the larger role RCMP play in policing communities across PEI.
For now, Darcie is continuing in her application process to join the RCMP. Every day, she and a number of friends hit the gym to keep up their fitness levels, and doing everything she can to be ready if her call to head to Depot comes through! Ask Darcie where she'd like to serve if she becomes a Mountie and she has her sights set across the country. "The Yukon would be my number one choice," she says. "As an Indigenous person, I'd really like to experience other First Nations' cultures and the Yukon really appeals to me. Alberta would be a close second," Darcie adds.
If you are interested in the RCMP's Indigenous Pre-Cadet Training Program, check out our website - https://rcmp.ca/en/careers-rcmp/indigenous-pre-cadet-training-program . You are always welcome to connect with our PEI RCMP Recruiting team as well located at RCMP Headquarters in Charlottetown. Their email is Ldiv_Recruiting@rcmp-grc.gc.ca Let's let Darcie have the last words here – "If you have ever wanted to find out what policing is like, and what great career options the RCMP has, and to experience it with a group of other Indigenous people from across Canada, the IPTP program is what you need to do. It's so great, I have made some many great friends, and I am really hopeful this will be a career that is lifechanging for me!"