The Dufferin Learn to Skate Program took place today with incredible success.

For the fifth year, the Winnipeg Police Service teamed up with local schools for the Learn to Skate program. Kids walked from Dufferin School to Pioneer Arena to skate and cheer on their fellow classmates.

The Winnipeg Police Service and Police Cadets partnered with Dufferin Elementary School, Hugh John MacDonald Junior High, Pinkham Elementary and Freight House, with the goal to keep youth engaged in a positive, healthy atmosphere.

The program started when the school and the Police realized there was a need in the area that they could address together.

"The kids from Freight House were getting hammered in hockey," said Constable Garnie McIntyre, the event organizer. "So we built this learn to skate program and it's really cool because we have everyone involved."

The program involves sending a select number of kids through a skating 'obstacle course' that includes a course for younger kids and one for the older ones.

"It can't be measured how great it is to connect with our school kids," McIntyre said. "I've been doing it for almost five years now, and the relationships I have with these kids now, you can't measure it."

"Students come up to me in the summer to tell me things . . . I'm more of a friend than a cop right now."

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