Police Athletics: Beyond the Call

Our newest temporary exhibit looks at the interconnections between sport and policing. On display from Summer 2009 to late 2011.

Police officers are required to have a significant amount of physical fitness to get "on the job" and many of them choose to use that fitness base to do amazing things. Recently, the Police Museum installed a large new exhibit on the history of police athletics in the Vancouver Police Department that tells the stories of physical training, exceptional police athletes and how sport plays a key role in how police departments engage the communities they serve.

(The photo to the right is of Duncan Gillis, the first British Columbian to be awarded an Olympic medal. He was a Vancouver Police officer. Photo courtesy BC Sports Hall of Fame & Museum, #6301.11.)

Teachers are encouraged to use this exhibit and accompanying resource kit to explore the relationships between communities, athletes, and police, with particular attention to the common values held amongst these closely related groups.  The kit supplies initial questions which will help to engage students in a discussion about the ways in which athletics can bring communities together and promote teamwork, competition, camaraderie, commitment, and integrity. 

Also included is a brief summary of some of the content of the exhibit as well as suggestions for post-visit activities such as further lessons, research activities, and creative responses.

The resource kit is available here [PDF, 2028kb].

For additional information about this kit, the exhibit or arranging a visit to the Police Museum, please contact the museum or use our online booking form to book a visit.