Beaver Creek and Haines Junction have new RCMP detachment commanders.

Cpl. Kim MacKellar will be moving from Haines Junction to Beaver Creek, while Cpl. Norm Devarennes is transferring from Beaver Creek to Haines Junction.

MacKellar has been a member of the RCMP for more than 27 years.

Prior to coming to the Yukon in 2000, he worked in Nova Scotia for 14 years. 

Since arriving here, MacKellar has worked in Teslin, Old Crow, Haines Junction, the “M” Division Relief Unit and in Beaver Creek from 2009 to 2011. 

“I really enjoyed my time in Beaver Creek and am looking forward to returning to the community,” he said in a news release.

Cpl. Devarennes was born and raised in New Brunswick. He studied business at the Université de Moncton and joined the RCMP in June 1987. 

Upon completion of training, he was posted in Joliette, Que., for nearly six years. While in Quebec, he worked with the First Nation community of Akwesasne.

He was then transferred to Richibucto, N.B., where he spent 19 years of his career and worked with the Elsipogtog First Nation. 

An RCMP news release states Devarennes sought out a transfer back in 2011 to the Yukon to experience the challenges and opportunities of policing in the North.

Since he arrived in September of that year, he’s been the detachment commander in Beaver Creek.

Devarennes’ wife, Sandra, is from Quebec. She’s an avid horseback rider and owned a riding school in New Brunswick.

In Beaver Creek, she worked as a medical clerk at the nursing station. She is looking forward to finding employment in Haines Junction.

The couple has two grown sons; one lives in New Brunswick while the other attends university in Pennsylvania.

“My wife, Sandra, and I very much welcome our move to Haines Junction,” Devarennes said in the statement.

“We have heard many positive things about the community of Haines Junction. Sandra and I embrace the opportunity to become involved in and explore our new community, and are excited to enjoy the cultural and recreational activities Haines Junction has to offer.”

The selection processes involved input from the community and the local First Nation – the White River First Nation in Beaver Creek and Champagne and Aishihik First Nations in Haines Junction.

“I was pleased to have been consulted with during the selection and believe the process employed to fill this important leadership position was a very positive experience,” said Champagne and Aishihik Chief James Allen. 

“We look forward to welcoming Corporal Devarennes and his spouse to our community.”

The community involvement is one of the RCMP’s commitments under the Sharing Common Ground: Review of Yukon’s Police Force report released several years ago.

“The detachment commander plays a really key role in the community,” said Insp. Ken Foster, the district policing officer of the RCMP in the Yukon.

“Not only are they responsible for managing and leading the detachment, they are the main link to local leadership when it comes to identifying and addressing the needs and priorities of the community.

“The detachment commander is an ambassador of the RCMP to the community and a vital conduit for the community back to the Division leadership team.”