Georgian policing students recognized in OPP fitness challenge

March 29, 2017

Two Georgian students in their first term of the Police Foundations program at the Orillia Campus have captured the attention of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) Uniform Recruitment Unit.

Keith Causton and Wazeer Rahman (pictured) are participating in the OPP 60-minute Challenge taking place between March 20 and June 18. The main goal of the challenge is to run one extra minute per workout over a period of 90 days until the participant reaches, or is close to the 60-minute mark, as part of the application process to be recruited.

The challenge is open to those applying or planning to apply to become an OPP constable. Both students will apply to the OPP when they complete their program in April 2018.

The pair decided to team up to tackle the challenge together, making sure to post their progress on social media each day and tag the recruitment unit (#OPP60). On March 24, the OPP shared one of the pair’s posts and gave a shout out to Georgian College on its Twitter, Facebook and Instagram pages for recruitment. Causton also won a pair of OPP sunglasses as part of ongoing prize giveaways.

Participants record their time for each workout on a fitness log and hand it in with their application. The contest started on the same day as Police Foundations instructor Bob Bradt scheduled an outdoor 1.5-mile run for their physical training class. Causton and Rahman decided to start the challenge with that class. They haven’t looked back since. They continue to run every other day, adding one minute onto their run each time.

“Running upwards of 40 minutes every other day will certainly put my cardiorespiratory system to the test – and my shoes – but at the end of the day it’s preparing me for a career with the OPP,” said Causton. “I know for a fact that recruits are expected to run at least 10 kilometres in their first week of training with the OPP and consistently afterward, so we are quite literally taking the steps required to get there.”

By day nine, the friends had already hit the 14-minute mark. They say training together will help them accomplish their goals.

“Even though it is our eighth day of the challenge and we have a long way to go, I’m pretty confident that we can do this,” said Rahman. “Also, if you have a partner or friend who has the same goal, that’s an extra bonus for you as it makes it more exciting and challenging.”

The top 10 winners of the challenge will be selected by the OPP Uniform Recruitment Unit and manager by June 28. Prizes include a ride-along with an OPP officer, a private mentoring session with an OPP Uniform recruiter and a Fitbit Charge 2.