New to Sundre, RCMP Const. Matt Floyd says he is looking forward to getting to know people in the community.
“I think it's a good place. I look forward to meeting people and I'll make an effort to try to get out and see people and introduce myself to different communities within the community,” said Floyd.
His previous posting was in Vegreville, where he worked for more than five years and enjoyed being a part of the community.
He moved to Sundre after he was offered the job and arrived just a couple of days before the overland flooding occurred in June.
“I was moving in, so just hoping that the flood didn't get too bad in this town,” he said.
“It's a nice community, everyone's pretty friendly. But a lot of people probably say that,” he laughed.
“It just seems more active than my previous post -- not necessarily the members because we're all active, but the community seems more outdoorsy. People are going for runs, walking their dogs and just being out and talking to people.”
He grew up in Ontario and started working as an RCMP officer at age 26. When asked his age, he joked that he doesn't keep track, but figured he is almost 32.
He lived in town alone for the first few weeks after moving here, but his wife arrived just a couple of weeks ago, after finishing up her job in Vegreville.
Before his first posting in Vegreville, he worked in a juvenile detention centre and at a nightclub in Niagara Falls.
“I worked in a flour mill when I was a teenager, and just working with people that weren't happy with their job is what kind of motivated me to find a career that's, no matter where you are, it's more of a family,” he explained.
“As you get to know the guys you work with, you're relying on them to save your life basically at times, so it's like a family environment,” he said.
As for hobbies outside of work, he enjoys fitness activities and is into motorcycles.
“You name it, I'll try it,” he said.
While being asked questions in the interrogation room at the detachment, he joked that he is usually the one who is asking the questions.
He asked not to have a photo taken, but said people will get to know his face in the community regardless.
“People, they'll meet me, don't worry. They don't have anything to worry about there.”
