For bylaw officer Adam Harrod, interactions with furry friends stand out as significant events in his 12 years patrolling the Town of Collingwood.
For this week’s edition of People of Collingwood we sat down with Harrod, 35, municipal law enforcement officer with the town.
Q: Where did you grow up?
A: I grew up and went to school in Barrie. Go Wildcats!
Q: Did you go to post-secondary? What in and where?
A: Yes, I attended Northern College in South Porcupine, Ont., and completed the first semester of their paramedic program. Realizing paramedicine wasn't for me, I changed my concentration to law and security administration at Georgian College in Orillia.
Q: Have you always wanted to work in bylaw? When did you decide this was a career path you wanted to pursue?
A: I've always had an interest in law enforcement. After I completed a co-op placement with the City of Barrie and a summer placement with the Town of Wasaga Beach, I discovered my interest in bylaw enforcement.
Pursuing a career as a bylaw enforcement officer fulfills my passion for helping others and my interest in municipal government and the role of a bylaw officer.
No two days are ever the same.
Q: How long have you worked in bylaw?
A: I've worked as a bylaw enforcement officer for about 12 and a half years.
It has been a very rewarding career and I recommend it for those who want to make a difference in their community.
Q: Do you have any interesting or funny stories about situations you've encountered as a bylaw officer over the years?
A: First, there was the kitten that the bylaw officers found on the engine block of our animal control vehicle and then there was the stray piglet that was dropped off at town hall.
Unfortunately, we weren't allowed keep the little piglet, however, town hall staff decided to adopt the kitten, now named Ranger.
Q: What do you wish people knew about bylaw? Are there any public misconceptions about your job you'd like to correct?
A: We aren't bad people, we don't hide in bushes, we don't have ticket quotas, and we don't enjoy charging or fining people.
We are normal, everyday people who live in the community. We have families, enjoy helping others and solving community concerns. We want to help make sure Collingwood remains a great place to live.
Q: What are your other interests?
A: I'm very passionate about baseball and I love playing and watching it.
I'm also a level 3 Baseball Ontario umpire, so if I'm not at home watching a game with my kids, you'll likely find me at one of the local parks playing or umpiring a game.
Q: What do you think makes Collingwood a unique place to live or visit?
A: What's not to love about Collingwood?
Whether you are a history buff, a foodie, an entrepreneur, or someone who just loves the outdoors, we have something for everyone. Collingwood is a great place to live, work, and play.
For our feature People of Collingwood, we’ll be speaking with interesting people who are either from or are contributing to the Collingwood community in some way, letting them tell their own stories in their own words. This feature will run on CollingwoodToday every Saturday. If you’d like to suggest someone to be featured in People of Collingwood, email [email protected].
