Never stop working
Retired police chief continues to serve his community
Lifelong Sydney Mines resident Harry Vickers was determined to make his boyhood ambition to work in law enforcement a reality.
He joined the Sydney Mines police force in 1962 and served as Constable for 15 years before being named chief in 1977.
“I was police chief until 1992. It was before amalgamation and I found it very rewarding.”
As chief of police, Vickers said he worked closely with people in the community and knew just about everyone. He said he needed to be able to separate his professional life from his personal life.
“When I was chief, I needed the community to respect me and my role as law enforcement, but I also needed to be able to separate being the chief when I was off the job as well.”
Vickers said while he loved his job it wasn’t without its challenges.
“There were times when I would be in situations where I needed to arrest people I knew really well. They didn’t always understand why it was necessary for me to take them into custody, but as a law enforcement officer it was my job. I wasn’t always everyone’s best friend, but I had to do what needed to be done.”
During his time on the force Vickers was well respected within the community, both in his role as police chief and in his personal life. He was head of the department during a time when interacting with civilians was common place.
“One of the best things about the job was attending activities going on in the town. As a representative of the police force, it wasn’t uncommon for people to approach me for a friendly chat. It was a different time, everyone in the town knew the police officers and the officers knew most of the people.”
In addition to his passion for law enforcement, Vickers has long had an interest in protecting and preserving the environment, particularly the lakes and rivers in Cape Breton.
“I love to fish. From the time I was a young boy spending time at my family summer place in Margaree, I fished the local rivers and streams. Over the years, I got interested in the environment, so I became a volunteer with ACAP Cape Breton. The organization was doing some good work and I felt I could help make a difference.”
His passion for fishing lead Vickers to join forces with other angling enthusiasts initiating the Cape Breton Anglers Association. The organization has been around for over 40 years and is dedicated to education, protection and preservation. Members use their platform to ensure anglers are respecting the lakes and rivers by adhering to the rules and regulations currently in place.
“There are a lot of great places to fish in Cape Breton, there are so many rivers and streams and there are a lot of people fishing. We are working to encourage more young people to get involved,” Vickers said.
As one of the founding members,
Vickers remains dedicated to the organization and currently serves as president.
“The Cape Breton Anglers Association has members from all over North America. We invite people to be a part of the association and we like to say that when they join, they join for life.”
Additional information regarding the work of the Cape Breton Anglers Association can be obtained by contacting anglervickers@hotmail.com.
At age 80, Vickers is committed to living his best life. He is an avid walker, often taking two walks a day, every day. He firmly believes that in order to enjoy a healthy, productive and meaningful life he needs to tend to his body, mind and soul.
“I love to keep active and I find walking is a great way for me to keep my mind clear.”
In addition to angling, Vickers says he also enjoys wine making.
“I brew my own wine from scratch and I also plant a small garden and sometimes use my own homegrown grapes and berries in my brew. When I can, I like to incorporate some other local fruits and berries in the mix as well.”
It seems there are not enough hours in the day for the father of two adult daughters to do the things he likes to do. Along with his many other interests, he enjoys the odd round of golf.
“I like to golf here and there and I particularly enjoy the course and restaurant at Baddeck Forks. The greens are welltended and they offer great hospitality. It is a great way to spend an afternoon.”
As a member of the Cape Breton Regional Police Retirement Association, Vickers is pleased to assist in organizing and attending events supporting local charitable, not-for- profit organizations.
“Being a part of the police retirement association gives me the opportunity to remain a part of my community. We are involved in a number of activities throughout the year and over time we have supported the Red Cross, the Salvation Army as well as special projects with the Royal Canadian Legion.”