Justice is literally in the hands of alum, Kerrin Hagberg ’12. As a Forensic Identification Examiner with the RCMP, Kerrin gathers photographs and collects evidence from crime scenes.

Dusting fingerprints, measuring footprints, assessing tire tracks, and reviewing hair, blood, and any other physical clues that may lead her to identify a suspect in a crime are what she manages on a regular basis.

With all this knowledge, she is often asked to testify as an expert witness during criminal court proceedings. Though she doesn’t think her job sounds like a gripping episode of CSI, we think otherwise.

Working as a Forensic Identification Examiner wasn’t always the plan after graduating from Meadowridge. With her sights set on going to law school, she pursued a Criminology Degree at SFU (where she was also on the cheerleading team!). She had the opportunity to gain practical experience while completing her degree and worked in various roles around law enforcement, including a position with the Canadian Border Services Agency as a student CBSA Officer and with the RCMP as a Data Entry Clerk. During a ride-along with the RCMP, she realized she didn’t want to be behind a desk all day, but rather, doing hands-on work and making a difference in people’s lives.

After obtaining her degree, she continued working for the RCMP as a 911 Call-taker. After that, the RCMP scored big time when she accepted her current role as a Forensic Identification Examiner, a job that she says is intense, yet also rewarding.

“My role and responsibilities have a direct impact on the safety of people. I love being the one to find evidence that will support them and their families to get the justice they deserve,” said Kerrin.

A CAREER SHE STUMBLED UPON

Through Kerrin’s open-mindedness to new opportunities, she stumbled upon a career that she would never have thought about pursuing, thanks to her time at Meadowridge.

“The School instilled in me to be multi-faceted. We had our academics, sports, theatre, clubs – we were so used to doing so many things and this led me to be open to trying new things and inviting different opportunities that come up.”

When Kerrin told her fiancé Ryan, she would be coming back to Meadowridge for a visit, he asked confused, “Why?”

“I told him – you don’t understand the bond and the connections we had as students and with our teachers at Meadowridge. My graduating class was a small group and many of us spent over 12 years growing up together. It’s a different kind of school community at Meadowridge!” Kerrin explained.

A lot has changed since Kerrin graduated in 2012. When she came back to our campus this past fall with Ryan and her mom, Dana, she was amazed at how different things looked and how much the school had expanded (and how much more it will be expanding!). Kerrin was stopped by many of her teachers who taught her during her time here, many of whom had moved on to new roles. However, there was one thing that remained unchanged, the supportive teachers and school community here at Meadowridge School.

WORDS OF ADVICE TO THIS YEAR’S GRADUATES

“In university, dive into as many things as you can, courses, clubs, or sports. You never know when you’ll stumble upon something you’ll love. Even if you don’t think you’ll go down a certain career path and a job or opportunity comes up for you, just do it! Don’t limit yourself and try it all because many doors will open for you.”