Kevin Keech

Ever since I was a teen, service was a part of my make-up. Starting my employment life I learned many customer relation skills at Safeway, and at a young age was promoted into a management position. This experience supported my ambition to become a police officer, and I sacrificed a great job and career path with Safeway to attend college at the age of 24. I was hired by the Camrose Police Service and had an incredibly rewarding 25 year career. Amongst many highlights, I spent 11 years as a Forensic Investigator digging for clues at crime scenes, and in 2005 reached my goal of being promoted to Sergeant. Throughout my career I maintained a compassionate and calm approach to the thousands of people I encountered. This too was my approach to mentoring and training Constables under my watch, some of which continue to police in Camrose and other municipalities. As much as police officers can become "the other side" of society, I placed great importance on community. I knew that some day the uniform would come off and I would need that community to support my life beyond retirement. Through extensive volunteerism, recreational sports, children's' school functions and over a decade on the sidelines of soccer pitches I nurtured relationships with so many people I maintain friendship with today. I was always interested in technology, and embracing it led to many opportunities in this area in policing, and after retirement as I continued as an IT technician for the service up until my retirement in 2020. Yes, I was still young, and the call to service did not end. My compassionate nature and longing to help people led to a calling into clerical work. In September of 2020 I was accepted into the Permanent Diaconate Formation Program with the Catholic Archdiocese of Edmonton. I have been studying and journeying since, and God willing look forward to being ordained a Permanent Deacon in July 2025. I have a great interest in people and an even greater desire to help those who struggle. This service attribute was present in my 34 year marriage to my wife Amelia, and our three daughters have joined the service industry one as a police officer, and two as registered nurses. I am truly proud of my family, our lasting friendships, and the community I have made home for nearly 50 years. My service continues as a volunteer with St. Francis Xavier Parish as Information Technology Lead, administering sacramental preparation, teaching programs, and singing in music ministry. Outside the parish I have enjoyed playing Saxophone in the Camrose Community Band for eleven years, and in the Battle River Big Band for four years, until its unfortunate disbanding. To continue my love of playing to community, I volunteer on a monthly basis, along with Mr. Tom Spila to provide music to the residents of the Rosehaven program.