I wish to nominate PC Jodi Haugh from York Regional Police Marine and Underwater Recovery Unit for the Extra Mile Award. PC Jodi Haugh has been a member of the York Regional Police Marine and Underwater

Recovery Unit since January 2020. She is very passionate about her position in the Marine Unit and the community she serves. Jodi exemplifies the York Regional Police Mission, Vision and Values and our motto, "Deeds Speak."

The Extra Mile Award is the most fitting category to nominate Jodi as she swam nearly 11 of them (17km) across Lake Simcoe to raise funds for cancer research while highlighting water safety.

In July 2022, Jodi was inspired by a friend and colleague who battled breast cancer and wanted to utilize her position in the Marine Unit as a platform to make a difference.

Her Marine teammates supported the idea and, subsequently, the Executive Leadership Team and our police association (YRPA).  

The event was named "Splash for Southlake," the operational plan featured PC Haugh and Marine officers swimming 17 kilometres across Lake Simcoe while YRP Corporate Communications "tweeted" water safety tips. Online donations for cancer research were set up through the "Southlake Foundation," a charitable foundation for cancer research and treatment in York Region.

On October 1st, the start of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Jodi dove into 16-degree Lake Simcoe water at Friday Harbour in Innisfil to commence the event.

Supported by her teammates, swimming in relay fashion from the shores of Innisfil to York Regional Police Marine Headquarters in Jacksons Point, the gruelling swim took 8 hours to complete.

The event was such a huge success, raising more than $13,000 in 2022, Jodi committed her efforts to the cause annually. In 2023, Jodi led the initiative to another successful year, posthumously dedicating the event in the name of 37-year-old Rachel Rudolf, a York Regional Police officer who lost her battle with cancer in 2023.