2010-02-24 16:38 PST

After long shifts on security duty, most of the police officers working for the Vancouver 2010 Integrated Security Unit opt to rest or take in the sights. But RCMP Sgt. Herb Waye instead likes to volunteer his off-time with Right to Play, an organization that helps developing nations participate in sports.

“You sleep when you can and when you can’t you might as well do something productive and have a good time at the same time,” he says.

And it is a good time at World of Play.  Sometimes, Waye greets visitors to the pavilion near False Creek and explains the Right to Play program in both of Canada’s official languages.  Other times, he just plays in the ball room.  Soccer and dodge ball are popular with the older youth and Simon Says for the little ones.  “I was just crawling around on my knees with the kids,” he laughs. “It’s a lot of fun and the people are very positive.  You can’t beat that.”

Sgt. Waye says he is enjoying both his volunteer work and his regular duty with the ISU on traffic duty downtown. “We have been hearing nothing but positive comments,” he says. “There are lots of congratulations to us for doing a good job.”

He will return to his job as a course co-ordinator for leadership programs at RCMP Headquarters in Ottawa once the Olympics are over.  But Sgt. Waye has something else to look forward to as well - he just became a grandfather the week before the Games started and he can hardly wait to get to Halifax to meet his new grandson.  Until then, he will just have to make do with playing with the kids at the Right to Play pavilion. 

Waye got involved with the Vancouver Right to Play area through Dr. Frank Fowlie, an old friend and ex-member of the RCMP.  Fowlie got involved with Right to Play many years ago while on a United Nations [FF] Mission to East Timor in the 1990’s.

“Back then it was called Olympic Aid and brought athletes and coaches to (post-conflict) communities to re-integrate sports into the fabric of society,” Fowlie says. “Right to Play is designed specifically for internally displaced people (ie: refugees) and operates in 23 countries around the world.”

The organization and its programs help bring opportunities to talk about peace, gender equality and HIV/AIDS.  For more information on Right to Play and its work around the world, visit www.righttoplay.com

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Email: bcrcmp@rcmp-grc.gc.ca