Blake Ellis/Local Journalism Initiative

A Sarnia police officer has been honoured for his role in Truth and Reconciliation with Indigenous people.

When Const. Tyler Callander was selected to be the first community officer in Aamjiwnaang First Nation, he didn’t realize his role is connected to Truth and Reconciliation.

“Now that I am here and I am invested and it is part of who I am now,” said Callander. “I consider what I do everyday part of that Truth and Reconciliation.”

Callander received the Heroes of the Badge Award on Monday at Aamjiwnaang First Nation. The award recognizes members of Ontario’s policing community whose contributions go beyond the normal expectation of their role.

Sarnia Police Service has provided policing services to Aamjiwnaang First Nation under a formal agreement dating back to 1989. A community officer program was set up to work directly with Aamjiwnaang First Nation in 2023. The role was to build relationships, respond to community concerns and provide a direct point of contact between Sarnia Police and Aamjiwnaang First Nation.

Callander was born and raised in Sarnia and is a second-generation police officer. He joined the Sarnia Police Service in 2009 as a patrol officer and later as a member of the criminal investigation division. He is also involved in the police services’ peer support program and leads the crisis negotiator team.

Callander admitted it was little intimidating to come in as the first community officer. Now, even though Callander is not Indigenous, he considers himself and his family apart of the Aamjiwnaang community.

And his service is appreciated. “You changed the way many of us in Aamjiwnaang view the Sarnia Police,” Aamjiwnaang Chief Janelle Nahmabin told Callander at Monday’s ceremony. “I believe that and I have seen that; I have witnessed that.”