Police officers from around B.C. came to Oak Bay Wednesday to honour and be honoured on the 10-year anniversary of AlexaB次元官网网址檚 Team.

Formed in 2008 after 4-year-old Alexa Middelaer was killed by an impaired driver, AlexaB次元官网网址檚 Team is an anti-impaired driving program to recognize dedicated police officers who are committed to reducing the number of impaired drivers on the road.

Two Oak Bay police members made AlexaB次元官网网址檚 Team again this year, Const. Mike Klein-Beekman and Const. Eric Thompson.

Police officers are named to AlexaB次元官网网址檚 Team if they remove at least 12 impaired drivers a year from the road.

B次元官网网址淵ou have been the change we hoped to see,B次元官网网址� said AlexaB次元官网网址檚 mother Laurel Middelaer to the officers in attendance. B次元官网网址淵ou have helped us heal. Enabled us to see whatB次元官网网址檚 possible. And we have leaned into your strength more than you will ever know.B次元官网网址�

Stories weaving friendship and service were shared during the ceremony, with one in particular leaving eyes misty.

When Alexa was little she attended a Montessori school in White Rock. She spoke often of her little friend Brenna and how they loved to pretend they were horses, running around the school yard and grooming each other. Laurel and her husband Michael Middelaer never had a chance to meet Brenna before AlexaB次元官网网址檚 death and never understood the depth of the relationship until later.

After the collision that killed Alexa, Victim Services called the Middelaers asking if they wanted anything from the collision scene.

B次元官网网址淗onestly, we didnB次元官网网址檛 want anything from that collision scene,B次元官网网址� said Laurel Middelaer.

But Victim Services kept calling, eventually telling them there had been a B次元官网网址渉orsie backpackB次元官网网址� in a gift bag that was at the scene. The Middelaers had no idea what it was and it wasnB次元官网网址檛 until MichaelB次元官网网址檚 parents had recovered enough from the collision that they told them B次元官网网址� Alexa had purchased the backpack for her friend Brenna just before the collision.

B次元官网网址淭his to us, as parents, was the first tangible sign of friendship we had seen Alexa display. Purchasing a gift for her friend,B次元官网网址� said Laurel Middelaer.

So they packaged up the backpack and gave it to Brenna. It turned out that BrennaB次元官网网址檚 parents were RCMP officers and a bond was formed for life.

Shortly after AlexaB次元官网网址檚 passing, Brenna entered a contest for the new foals for the RCMP Musical Ride. There is an alphabetical naming system for the foals, and that year the letter was B次元官网网址淔B次元官网网址�. Brenna won the contest writing an impassioned letter about her best friend Alexa.

Born June 9, 2008, in memory of Alexa Middelaer, is a foal named Friend.

Laurel Middelaer used this story to talk about the importance and power of friendship, and to tell the officers in AlexaB次元官网网址檚 Team that she considers them all friends.

B次元官网网址淭o our dear friends, members of AlexaB次元官网网址檚 Team, we thank you for your connection to us, for rallying around us to honour our wee girl,B次元官网网址� said Laurel Middelaer. B次元官网网址淲e feel you have honoured her story and brought change with that story.B次元官网网址�

Since its inception, AlexaB次元官网网址檚 Team members have processed 86,534 sanctions for alcohol and drug related driving offences. The team has grown from 26 members in 2008 to the current 2,400.