Weyburn's own Chief of Police was named a member of the Order of Merit for Police Forces last month.

It was presented to Marlo Pritchard by Governor General Julie Payette on June 5 at Rideau Hall in Ottawa.

“It was a mixed ceremony that recognized contributions of Canadians in many different walks of life, military, RCMP, volunteers, awards of bravery, it was quite a unique and humbling experience to be with some great individual Canadians that contributed greatly to their communities or Canadian society.”

Pritchard said he didn’t want to make a big deal, which is why the community only just learned about this award.

“I tried not to make a big deal of it. It was an honour, but in all fairness, it’s not about me, it’s about the organization, it’s about the people around me,” he said of his attempt to keep the recognition under wraps.

He said he doesn’t know who nominated him, but that it was likely a peer in the policing community. The nomination process goes through local, regional and national levels before reaching the Governor General.

“I’m quite active at the provincial level and at the national level, on a number of committees around public safety,” he said. “So all of that is taken into consideration.”

Pritchard is currently the president of the Saskatchewan Association of Chiefs of Police, and as part of that role as the chiefs of police, he sits on a number of committees working on ensuring the cannabis regulations and acts, which will be rolling out in the fall, fit the needs of the communities in the province.

“They focused around the work that I have done in the region, around helping develop the first Saskatchewan regional approach to our hub community, enhancement community partnership that we work at identifying and working with individuals at risk,” explained Pritchard.

He also sits on a national law advisory committee that looks at the changes in the legal system that affect policing and public safety.

“We try to advocate and bring case studies forward for changes that would enhance public safety and the efficiencies of the Criminal Code.

Those examples, he noted, were just a few of the many opportunities he has to help to keep Weyburn residents, and all Canadians, safe.