Beacons of Hope 2024 – QR Calgary

WHAT IS BEACONS OF HOPE?

Beacons of Hope is a free community event to which anyone is welcome to attend.  Beacons of Hope 2024 will be a casual family-friendly community fair that happens to celebrate our police.

WHY WAS THE EVENT CREATED?

In 2022, we wanted to give Calgarians a chance to support our Calgary Police Service members at a time when they face an unprecedented amount of negativity.  In fact, a survey taken last year within the Calgary Police Service determined that 76% of members surveyed, If they could go back in time, would not become police officers.  Let that sink in.  Three quarters of our police service are so beaten down by “Defund the Police”, Freedom Convoy protests, BLM, ANTIFA, etc. that they are no longer proud to put on their uniform.  And yet they do, every day.  Every day our officers place themselves in harms way.  We’ve lost 9 police officers in Canada already this year in Line of Duty Deaths.

While there is a loud minority yelling obscenities — often in megaphones – a group of citizens wanted to give a platform to those who respect and admire our police.  Beacons of Hope was born.  A chance for our civilians and police to come together in a positive space and for both sides to say, we appreciate you and we have your back.

WHO CREATED IT?

Beacons of Hope was the vision of Murray McCann and Jackson McDonough.  Together with a small committee of volunteers, chaired by Sean Libin, the Beacons of Hope event has taken life.  Murray has a saying, “if you see something and think to yourself ‘somebody should do something about that’, remember you’re a somebody, so take action.”  Murray saw a need, he took action and we are changing the narrative around policing in our city.  There are no paid positions in Beacons of Hope.  It’s just Calgarians wanting to bring out the best of our citizens and our city.

WHY IS IT CALLED BEACONS OF HOPE?

Our police and first responders are often our beacons in our darkest times.  When we found out that the police in our city (and in so many others) we experiencing their darkest time we knew we had to shine a light figuratively; but we also shined a light literally.  We lit 3500 beacons/lanterns that burned through the night at the inaugural Beacons of Hope event.  They each held an inscription that said, “Don’t feel bad if people only think of you when they need you.   In a way, you are like a candle, where people look for the light only where there is darkness.”  Afterwards, we offered these candles (designed to burn for 72 hours) to each officer with the hope that during times of darkness our officers will light their candle and let it shine as a silent beacon of hope and a visual reminder that the courage and selfless service our Calgary Police officers is always appreciated.

WHAT WILL BEACONS OF HOPE 2023 LOOK LIKE?

This year’s event can best be described as a country-style family community fair and celebration.  We anticipate attendance of up to 5,000 citizens.

We’ll have free entertainment on the main stage with bands, including a band comprised of police officers, and a headline performance by Canadian award winning country artist Bobby Wills.

Police will have several displays set up of equipment that they use including police cars, helicopter, motorcycles, mounted patrol (horses), armoured vehicles, duty gear, tactical gear and robots, etc. and we will have displays and activities from the Calgary Police Youthlink Interpretive Centre.

A kids area will feature a 70 foot inflatable obstacle course, bounce house, carnival games, face-painters and various activities.

A demonstration area will feature police demos of everything from Canine Unit Police Service Dogs to how Less-Than-Lethal equipment is used to safely deescalate serious incidents, etc.

Battle of the Beacons – a fun tug-of-war competition — will face off 12 teams comprised of police staff from throughout the city (and some other jurisdictions) in a fun-spirited and light-hearted competition for bragging rights for the first Battle of The Beacons Cup.

We’ll have 6 different food trucks on site and the Kinsmen have graciously donated 1000 x $10 food vouchers to elementary students from underprivileged schools to participate.

We’ll have some police officers who have secondary jobs displaying some of their products along with some sponsors.

And there will be lots more to discover there.

HOW CAN PEOPLE GET INVOLVED?

Come to the event.  Bring a lawnchair or blanket or a picnic lunch if you want and enjoy some entertainment.  Come and meet some police officers and let them meet you.

Go online (www.beaconsofhope.ca) and leave a message of appreciation for officers.

Purchase a Beacons of Hope challenge coin.  Each coin is numbered and each Calgary Police Service member received a coin last year.  So a police member will have a coin with the same number as you have and they’ll know you support them and you’ll know they support you.   Coins are $25 with proceeds going to the Calgary Police Youth Foundation.