KIWANIS CLUB SERVICE AWARD

Ex-deputy police chief honoured
Regina's Denis Chisholm given service award
 
Trevor Newell, Leader-Post
Monday, May 12, 2008

Former Regina deputy police chief Denis Chisholm (left) talks with Kiwanis Clubs of Regina member
Dr. Henry Kinzel on Monday. Chisholm was presented with the 2008 Kiwanis Service Award.

CREDIT: Don Healy, Leader-Post
Denis Chisholm with Dr. Henry Kinzel

REGINA -- Service has been a constant in Denis Chisholm's life.

As a teenager living in Prince Albert, he joined the Prince Albert and North Battleford Volunteers Militia. In 1940, he lied about his age in order to join the Regina Rifles Regiment, which fought in Europe during the Second World War.

"A lot of us high school kids went down (to enlist)," he said Monday after being presented with the Kiwanis Club's 2008 Service Award. "I'm 84, but as far as the army's concerned, I'm 87."

Upon his return to Canada, Chisholm decided to join the RCMP rather than return to school.

"After being a foot soldier and going through all that, go and sit in Grade 11? No way," he said.

In the RCMP, Chisholm found himself surrounded by war veterans and he naturally thrived in the force's disciplined environment. It was the perfect way to make the transition from military service, he said.

"The mounted police was my saving grace," he said.

But Chisholm's career as a Mountie was short-lived. At that time, RCMP members with fewer than five years of service were not allowed to marry and Chisholm was not prepared to wait that long. With the promise of food to eat and girls to meet, the young officer attended a dance at Carmichael United Church with three of his colleagues. It was there that he met his future wife, Edith.

"I don't know if I'd still be here without her," he said.

Chisholm joined the Regina Police Service in 1947 in order to marry Edith. The career change was a wise decision, as he and Edith have now been married for 61 years and have five children, 14 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Chisholm served with the municipal force until 1980, when he retired from service, having reached the rank of deputy chief.

Besides soldiering and law enforcement, Chisholm has served the community in other ways. During his days with the Regina Police Service, he helped organize what later became known as the Regina Police Junior Band.

Chisholm is also a charter member of the Queen City chapter of the Kiwanis Club and has volunteered his time to raise money for various causes. For 12 years, Chisholm was the oldest rider in the 150-kilometre bike tour for the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada.

He has also completed two bike tours to raise money for the palliative care unit at the Pasqua Hospital. Chisholm said he began cycling as a newly minted officer with the Regina Police Service. At the time he joined the force, there were only six motor vehicles to go around.

"That's where I got my start and I'm lucky to still be pedalling today," he said.

Chisholm was given the award at a joint meeting of the local Kiwanis and Rotary clubs. In his remarks, he said everybody can make a difference by serving their communities. Drawing on his experience as a law enforcement officer, he gave the example of citizens reducing crime in their neighbourhoods by reporting criminal activity to the authorities.

Chisholm also said he felt honoured to have been chosen as the Kiwanis Club's service award recipient.

"I'm very emotional. There are so many dear friends of mine in this group (attending the meeting)," he said. "I've gotten a few awards in my life, but this is the most outstanding, particularly with this being Police Week."

tnewell@leaderpost.canwest.com
© Leader-Post 2008