NEWS RELEASE
BARRIE POLICE SERVICE
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The Barrie Police Service is proud of our ongoing partnerships and collaboration with the Treaty Three Police Service and will be joining T3PS in placing the MMIWG decals on our police cars, as we support their efforts to encourage dialogue on this important topic for our country.
In May 2021, the Treaty Three Police Service (T3PS) near Kenora, Ont., unveiled a new decal to honour and raise awareness of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG).
T3PS Spirit of Hope co-ordinator Jody Smith led the project after an idea was brought forward by a T3PS member to place a MMIWG decal on police vehicles to create dialogue in the community and honour Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls.
Honouring traditional protocols, the art piece was created in collaboration with the Grand Council Treaty #3 Women’s council, Elder Howard Copenace and MMIWG family member and advocate, Sharon Johnson. The designer for the graphic is a Couchiching band member, Fallon Simard, who assisted Treaty Three Police Service with bringing together the group’s final ideas.
With the male image as an ally of MMIWG and the LGBTQ2 rainbow colours on the drum, this decal is very inclusive.
The unveiling of this decal T3PS coincided with the National Day of Awareness for MMIWG on May 5. The new vehicle decals appeared on T3PS vehicles in 2021.
“We’ve been fortunate to have worked closely with Treaty Three Police Service and are honoured to be able to join them in raising awareness and fostering dialogue on the topic of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG),” said Chief Rich Johnston. “It is our hope that these decals will not only show our support to Treaty Three Police Service’s efforts, but also that they will encourage everyone to learn more about the MMIWG issue.”
The MMIWG decals are now visible on the Barrie Police Service vehicles. Please visit www.barriepolice.ca/mmiwg for more information and resources.
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