Community safety is a vital component of quality of life. It enables law-abiding citizens to go about their daily lives without fear of violence, theft, or victimization from other criminal activities. One of the top priorities of the Resort Village is for people to feel safe where they live, work or spend their leisure time. Furthermore, public safety plays a critical role in emergency management, ensuring effective response and mitigation of natural disasters, pandemics, and other crises.
Policing services in the Resort Village of Candle Lake are provided by the Candle Lake Regional Special Constable Service and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. The Candle Lake Citizens on Patrol Program (COPPS), led by a group of residents, also operates within the Resort Village.
Candle Lake Regional Constable Service
Candle Lake is fortunate to have three Special Constables (also known as Community Safety Officers or CSO’s); two full-time and one part time, and one reserve constable. Special Constables are appointed and sworn into their positions according to The Police Act of Saskatchewan, 1990. They are responsible for applying legislation under Municipal, Provincial, and Federal Law and work hand in hand with our enforcement partners including Candle Lake Emergency Services, Candle Lake COPPS, Smeaton RCMP, Saskatchewan Ministry of Environment Conservation Officers, and Saskatchewan Highway Patrol to promote public safety.
Our Special Constables respond to complaints made by the public regarding different types of situations from zoning and property standards, complaints about erratic driving and speeding, to animal control and alcohol and noise related complaints. Officers patrol as a crime reduction strategy and to provide a community policing presence. They also attend to public safety incidents to assist our partners.
Candle Lake Special Constables are also responsible for enforcing bylaws within Candle Lake. Bylaws are created by Council to govern the Resort Village. When it comes to bylaw enforcement, the Constable’s main priority is to help solve compliance issues.
In 2023, the Special Constables responded to almost 500 calls. Many of these calls were to assist the RCMP, to provide residents with general assistance with issues, and traffic complaints. They also dealt with 375 separate situations related to bylaws and other matters. In addition, they conducted over 450 proactive patrols throughout the Resort Village area.
The team currently uses three patrol vehicles which include a 2020 Chevrolet Tahoe, 2022 Chevrolet Traverse, and a 2011 Dodge Charger.
When to Call a Special Constable
The Candle Lake Special Constables can be contacted with any questions or concerns residents have in relation to any laws or regulations in Candle Lake. Some examples of the most common type of calls received are in relation to (but not limited to):
• Noise complaints
• Traffic complaints
• Suspicious vehicle or person complaints
• Public use of liquor and cannabis
• Public drunkenness and public disturbances
• By-law enforcement in relation to messy yards or business licensing and dock concerns
• Animal control
• ATV complaints
• Trespassing
• Wildlife complaints
How to Contact a Special Constable
Please call the community dispatch service at 1-306-960-1855. The dispatcher will ask the type of complaint, the location of the complaint, and information regarding the incident. If the situation is an emergency, it will be forwarded immediately to the Constable, or to the RCMP if the complaint falls outside of their mandate. If the situation is not an emergency, a Constable will attempt to contact the complainant within 72 hours.
 Sergeant Paul Sirman |  Auxiliary Special Constable Mark Peters |
How you can get involved – COPPS
Residents can also get involved in helping to improve the safety in our community. The Candle Lake Citizens on Patrol Program (COPPS) is made up of a group of volunteers who assist the Special Constables and the Smeaton RCMP in keeping our community and area safe. Our volunteers are anonymous; they patrol the Resort Village at all hours of the day or night, looking for signs of criminal activity and reporting suspicious matters as required. COPPS is always looking for new patrollers. If you are interested in being involved, please call 306-519-2569.