First Nations officer says he owes success to military

When it comes to serving his country, Joel Pedersen has had quite the experience.  

After joining the military at age 17, he became a police officer at age 22 and most recently opened his own gym, touring to offer fitness training programs in many communities.

Pedersen is still a member of the army reserves as a Chief Warrant Officer (CWO), the highest non-commissioned rank in the military.

Looking back on the day he signed up in Prince Albert in 1987, Pedersen said it has definitely contributed to his success.

Then called the North Saskatchewan Regiment B Company, it was (and still is) the most northern Canadian Forces base.

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Pedersen was part of a UN peacekeeping mission around the time of the Gulf War.

Upon his return to Canada, he joined the Saskatoon City Police in 1992, moving up in the ranks to be a Detective Sgt.

“It was something I’ve always been drawn to,” said Pedersen. “I always wanted to be a policeman, I always was drawn to the military.”

 Even as a teen, Pedersen wanted to continue with the forces as long as possible.

“I knew that if I were able to continue on in the military at a young age, it would beneficial in the long run…and it was. It’s been a great career,” said Pedersen.

Over the years, Pedersen was able to advance his career further, through the military.

“Opportunities that came forward were at the right time,” he said.

Pedersen said he would like to see more First Nations  and Metis people in the Canadian Forces, although he said he’s seen numbers improve.

“In the last twenty-plus years I’ve been in the military and policing, I’ve seen more and more aboriginal people entering the forces, the work forces in general, both in policing and in the military, and it’s great,” he said.

Joining the military can have a huge positive effect on people’s lives, said Pedersen, who recommends it to youth who may be interested.

“I think that the military has been a positive environment,” said Pedersen. “It’s professional…and it’s respected.

“It’s respected for a lot of reasons.”

Pedersen said many people on both sides of his family have been part of the military.

“So that was kind of always there on the peripheral,” he said.

“I didn’t do it by myself, that’s for sure. My family supports me, colleagues have supported me and I’ve had some really excellent mentorship.”

Through his early mentors, the mentorship skills that influenced his life were eventually passed on to him.

“I think that those two careers have brought me to where I am now, where I can give back,” said Pedersen.

Now, as the owner and lead trainer at 2J2 Fitness, Pedersen is passing on those skills to others, in the hopes of guiding youth to be leaders in their own communities.

Pedersen hopes this will help improve lives in northern Saskatchewan.

“I know that a healthy lifestyle and an active lifestyle is a positive thing that can propel you through some of the worst things that you have to go through physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually,” he said.

On Tuesday, Pedersen travelled up north to give a speech in Beauval on the importance of First Nations and Metis people in the Canadian Forces throughout history.

asoloducha@panow.com

On Twitter: @alex_soloducha