Meet new member Paul Allen

Paul Allen is one of Rotary’s newest members...   Now retired, he was with the Toronto Police Service for 29 years and then supervised an investigative team for Aviva Insurance for another 10 years.  Paul and his wife were inspired to move to Fonthill after their daughter met and married a local lad. 

 

He reflected on his career as a Police Officer, recalling a time that took him away not only from his family but country too.  It was important for Paul to “make a change”, in his life before he retired so he chose to embark on a journey, one for him that certainly resonates with Rotary’s four way test. 

Through a Canadian Government organization known as CIDA, participation in the United Nations  International Police Task Force (IPTF) was funded. The UN IPTF is a part of the civilian components that go on UN missions into war torn countries for the purpose of helping rebuild the post conflict institutions of criminal justice.  After much paperwork and organizing Paul left to embark on a UN mission to Bosnia shortly after right after the war, along with 15 other people, all mainly RCMP officers.  His research has shown since that there are now 13 clubs representing Rotary in Bosnia-Herzegovina.  During his nearly year-long mission, his role was to oversee local law enforcement training, mentoring, improve their accountabilities, relationship building and compliance.  During his time in Bosnia he was instrumental in bringing about necessary change to the Ministry of Public Security.  Paul also informed the club that during the conflict, Bosnia-Herzegovina thousands of land mines were placed. As in many post conflict zones, people were constantly getting hurt and/or killed . Even today they have not recovered the mine, even though they have de-mining continues  A highlight of  his mission,  was living amongst the local community. He had the pleasure to make friends with a local family, sharing some pictures of the family. He spoke of their struggles during and after the war. He offered to act as their immigration sponsor to Canada, as he felt that he they would be good immigrants and citizens for Canada. However, the family chose to remain in Bosnia-Herzegovina, so as to be close to family.