After more than three years in the community, Athabasca RCMP Detachment Commander Sgt. Kevin McGillivray is moving on.
Later this month McGillivray will take on the assignment of Sergeant Major of the entire RCMP K-Division. McGillivray’s worked in four different detachments throughout his 13-year policing career, including stops in Vermilion, Elk Point and a brief stint in Nunavut.
“I’ve been in this area for almost four years now between Boyle and Athabasca,” said McGillivray. “Myself and my family are really going to miss this area, but it is a good career move and a good time in our lives, I think, to make this move.”
The job was given to him by the Commissioner of the RCMP and is one of four across Canada. The post will take him out of general duty policing and into a more ceremonial role.
“I’ll be out when there are members going out on Remembrance Day or at the Calgary Stampede Parade. So, I’ll be out at these big events directing those members,” he said. “I’ll also be dealing with performance enhancement in our entire division. So, if there (are) members that need assistance with development, I can go out and assist the unit commanders with different programs and stuff like that.
“Rather then focusing on the detachment, like I have done over the years, it’s more of a division-wide job that I’m going to.”
Although he hasn’t officially left, with his last day around Dec. 9, he has already started his new position on a par- time basis.
“So far it’s been a lot of fun,” he said. “I’ve been doing a lot of the ceremonial stuff at this point, but once I get in there I will be really getting into the nuts and bolts of the whole thing.”
A new commanding officer has been named for the Athabasca RCMP Detachment.
Staff Sgt. Brian Nicholl will be taking over the detachment, replacing the retired Staff Sgt. Brian Scott. Nicholl is currently based in Dease Lake, B.C. and is expected to be in Athabasca in January.
