Regional Police open kids contest to be ‘Chief for a Day’
Posted Mar 3, 2026 03:09:56 PM.
Last Updated Mar 4, 2026 10:55:55 AM.
The popular Waterloo Regional Police Service (WRPS), Chief for a Day contest returns, with a new twist this year.
Students in Grades 5 to 8 in the region are invited to enter the contest to spend the day in the big chair as Chief of Regional Police.
To enter, participants need to submit an essay (a minimum of 400 words) or make a short video that describes what they would do to make a positive impact in the community if they got to be chief for a day.
The top five entrants will then get an invite to police headquarters, where they will undergo a formal interview where they will present their essay.
The finalists will be announced May 11, coinciding with the start of Police Week in Ontario. That announcement will happen on WRPS social media.
The winner will get to don a real police uniform, tour HQ, check out the inside of a police cruiser, hang out with the canine unit, and interact with officers throughout the day.
The twist is that the winner will also be invited to present their essay to a room of over 700 people at the WRPS Hearts & Heroes Awards Gala in November.
In a statement, Police Chief Mark Crowell said, “The Chief for a Day contest is about listening to youth, encouraging responsibility, and showing the young people in our community that their voices matter.”
Entries must be made online. The deadline is May 4, 2026.
