Back in time: RPS puts time capsule inside walls of new building

The current Regina Police Service is inviting its future self to go back in time.

On Monday, the RPS placed a time capsule in the walls of the link being built between the service’s current headquarters on Osler Street and the soon-to-be-constructed west wing of the RPS headquarters in the former STC bus terminal.

The original police service building was built in the 1970s when the city’s population was around 100,000 lower than it is now.

As the RPS begins to open a new chapter of policing — the construction on the west headquarters is slated to wrap up in 2023 — Chief Evan Bray felt it was important to tell people about issues police faced in 2022.

The items placed inside the time capsule. (Shane Clausing/980 CJME)

“It’ll be interesting for them to open it up and reflect on some of the challenges that we had,” Bray said during Monday’s event.

There are a number of items included inside the time capsule, including:

• A letter from Bray to future readers;
• An organizational chart and district year-end reports;
• A strategic plan;
• A dress tunic and hat;
• The Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Call to Action, along with an orange shirt and sage;
• A 2022 edition of the Criminal Code;
• A Book of Statutes from 1922;
• A collective bargaining agreement;
• A Naloxone kit;
• Some RPS wellness items, such as a COVID-19 test kits, masks, gloves, hand sanitizer and Christmas cards;
• A Glock 22 case, a Blackhawk holster and a target;
• An explanation of the School Resource Officer program;
• A copy of the RPS’s 2022 operating and capital budget;
• Some challenge coins;
• A canine stuffie;
• Communications equipment, including a portable radio, headset, pager and flip phone;
• Material from the Cultural & Community Diversity Unit, including a hide-scraping bone tool and Pride epaulettes;
• Material from the Evidence Management Unit, including a handgun box and stickers/tags/labels; and,
• Traffic safety material, such as Summary Offence Ticket Informations (manual and e-ticket), a SoToxa cartridge and a RID graphic.

Among the items placed into the time capsule that stand out was the letter from Bray to those who will hopefully read it in the future.

The time capsule is placed inside the wall. (Shane Clausing/980 CJME)

Bray says it wasn’t easy penning a letter for 50 to 100 years down the road.

“I’ll be shocked if, 100 years from now when they’re reading it, there isn’t similar work going on,” he explained.

“Hopefully we’ve made advancements by then, but the notion of working together and finding innovative ways to enhance community safety, those are all things that I’ve put in the letter that we’re hoping to show (in the capsule) the meaningful work we’re doing.

“We’re featuring various different areas of our police service and I’m sure they’ll look back on 100 years from now and something we’re taking for granted today will be shocking to them. It’s very exciting.”

Mayor Sandra Masters feels the time capsule can be used as an important reminder of just how far the city has gone with policing.

“You don’t really get the opportunity to share what happens today with the future. When they open up the time capsule, the RPS can have a glimpse into the challenges and opportunities that we were facing in 2022,” she explained. “It (will be) kind of fun to look 100 years from now at the equipment and the sharing of thoughts and calls to action.

“It would be wonderful if 100 years from now if that’s just a part of history because there’s equity in society and it’ll be interesting to see just how far we’ve come.”