“We need the best of what Canadian society has to offer!”
The RCMP will not meet its recruiting goal this year and is launching a new national campaign Monday to attract more young people to the force. The $ 800 000 advertising blitz is aimed at the 18-to-34 age group - potential recruits young enough to be the children of veteran officers who will be retiring in droves over the next few years.
RCMP-Werbeplakat.
Designed around a pitch that the RCMP offers an exciting, meaningful career with vast opportunities, the campaign will target members of the Internet generation who are being courted by other employers faced with Canada's labour shortage.
“The crucial point is that we as an organization must be seen as a viable employer and people need to know that we are hiring,” said Supt. Glen Siegersma, officer in charge of the RCMP's national recruiting program in Ottawa.
“All I ask they do is take a moment and look at us as a potential employer and make an informed decision as to whether or not it is something they would like to pursue rather than writing us off because of urban myth.”
Such urban myths include beliefs that the RCMP only wants to hire members of minority groups, people who are bilingual or university graduates - a throwback to conditions a decade or more ago when a tight job market allowed the force to cherry-pick recruits.
In fact, a prospective officer must simply be a healthy Canadian citizen of good character at least 19 years old, speak English or French, have a high school diploma and possess a valid driver's licence.