Alta Vista school resource officer humbled by Ottawa police awards

EMC Ottawa
Eddie Rwema
Thursday, June 14, 2012

Ottawa police Const. Mahamud Elmi was the recipient of two major awards - the Community Service Award and the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal, for his outstanding contribution to the community, his role in the creation of the Somali Basketball League and his humanitarian and fundraising efforts in the establishment of the Somali Hope Academy in his native land

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EMC news - An Ottawa police school resources officer in Alta Vista was honoured with two community police awards at the Ottawa police's annual Community/Police Awards Ceremony on June 5.

Const. Mahamud Elmi received the Community Service Award and the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal for his outstanding contributions in the community.

Elmi was honoured for his role in the creation of the Somali Basketball League and his humanitarian and fundraising efforts in the establishment of the Somali Hope Academy in Somalia.

"It was an honour for me, and I accepted the awards on behalf of all those people that are behind the two initiatives," said Elmi.

Elmi said he knows how a good education can propel someone into an exciting career and future.

Since 2008, Elmi has raised money to build a school in Somalia, the country where he was born and where public schools are in extremely short supply.

"When I visited Somalia in 2008, I saw the need for education and I don't think any child should pay for education at least at the primary level," said Elmi.

The construction of the school is 90 per cent complete and Elmi hopes to have it opened early this fall.

When we started the initiative, our goal was to have the school open in 2012 and we are on schedule," he said.

"There's still some work to do but we are making a very good progress."

In a statement, Richard King, principal at Ridgemont High School, said those who work with Elmi on a regular basis know how great his impact is on the community.

"He is deserving of both awards," said King.

The first shipment from Canada to the Somali Hope Academy arrived last month with 400 kilograms of books donated by several schools in the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board, spearheaded by staff at Ridgemont High School and Charles H. Hulse Public School.

"As Canadians we have always responded to calls no matter what the situation was and this is not different," said Elmi.

"Our drive is to make a differences to the lives of hundreds of young Somali's who are yearning for quality education."

Elmi said he envisions a world in which all Somali children can pursue a good education that enables them to reach their full potential and contribute to their community and the world.

"The communities there are eager and cannot wait for the school to open," said Elmi.

At the same event, Ridgemont graduate Batul Masri was awarded the Thomas G. Flanagan S.C. Scholarship.

Named after a former chief of police, this scholarship was established to assist visible minority and Aboriginal women who have expressed an interest in a policing career.

For more information on Elmi's work visit www.somalihopeacademy.org.

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