Ribbon Cutting for the New Brant OPP Detachment

Wednesday, 29 September 2021 15:57

The ribbon has finally been cut on the brand new OPP building for Brant County.

BRANT COUNTY - The ribbon has finally been cut on the brand new OPP building for Brant County.

This building has been years in the making. It was actually completed last year and the Police have been operating out of the building since November, 2020. They held off on the ribbon cutting because of the pandemic.

Brant County funded the building, which cost around $14 million dollars. Mayor David Bailey says this building will replace the old one downtown, which was no longer serviceable.

"It's as good as it gets and we were very grateful to be able to build it this way because of the condition of the OPP building in Downtown Paris, which was a very terrible environment, it wasn't healthy and it was a retrofit to an old Post Office. It was wet and it was damp and it wasn't good and I'm very grateful for everyone that believed in our hard dream."

Bailey calls it the Taj Mah Hall of police stations.

"This project has been a labour of love and many people in our community have worked very hard to make it a reality. The location was specifically chosen to allow Brant OPP easy access to major travel routes throughout the County and the building has been designed to ensure it can evolve with the growing needs of the community over the years. We are thankful for the excellent service that Brant OPP provide to the County of Brant residents."

Brant-Brantford Will Bouma was also on hand for the ribbon cutting ceremony.

"As a volunteer firefighter myself, I understand first-hand the importance of good: equipment, location and dynamic/expandable premises for the effective service to our community. This new OPP detachment building is an exemplification of modern, efficient and safe use of space and resources. My compliments to the County of Brant and the OPP for this huge step in serving the community now and in the future."

To commemorate the day, a special ceremony was held this morning, featuring the Town Crier and several dignitaries. They include the Honorable Sylvia Jones, Solicitor General, Will Bouma, Member of Provincial Parliament, Belinda Karahoalios, Member of Provincial Parliament, Jennifer Haley, Chair of the Police Services Board, Commissioner Thomas Carrique, OPP, Rob Stinson, President of the Ontario Provincial Police Association, Chief Superintendent Dwight Thib, Commander of OPP West Region, Neil Aitchison, Senior Manager Market Development at Melloul-Blamey Construction and Dr. Reverend David Ralph.