Cpl. Craig van Herk didn't originally intend to become an RCMP officer, following in the footsteps of his father.

"I thought about it a lot," van Herk said. "But my plan was to be a high school teacher."

He wanted to teach physical education and geography, worked on an undergrad degree in kinesiology, and even did some substitute teaching. He said he did enjoy the work.

"But it didn't feel right,and in the back of my mind was always RCMP."

So van Herk, at age 27, headed off for the RCMP Depot Division in Regina, Sask.

He went from living with his wife in a newly-purchased townhome in Abbotsford to living with 24 other RCMP recruits in a dormitory for six months.

When he got back, he was assigned to Surrey, which was the largest RCMP detachment in Canada for many years. 

"I went right to Whalley," van Herk said.

He described the work in what was at the time a tough neighbourhood as "a constant barrage."

In his first two weeks, he was involved in foot pursuit that went straight through a strip club, as the suspect bolted in the front doors and right out the back again.

In addition to serious crimes, including carjackings, he spent time dealing with small issues, like helping rescue a child who had climbed a tree and gotten stuck.

Van Herk was one of the first four officers in Whalley assigned to foot patrol duties.

"You don't have the security blanket of a car," he said.

You see and hear a lot more outside of a vehicle, and people are more likely to approach and ask for help as well, he said.

Despite not having ridden a lot, van Herk also had aspirations to become a bicycle officer, and after almost four years on foot patrol, he got to start a bike section. He took the RCMP bike course.

"I had never fallen so many times in my life," he recalled of the intensive training.

Once on patrol, he found they spent minimal time actually riding – officers would travel a few hundred meters, come upon an incident, investigate or help out, and leave only to encounter another incident nearby.

It spurred his interest in cycling in general, and led him into the Cops for Cancer Tour de Valley. Van Herk's bike patrol partner Derek Evanson was an avid cyclist and had already taken part in the fundraiser, which involves a multi-day ride through the Lower Mainland and Fraser Valley to raise money for childhood cancer research and patient support.

Van Herk joined the Tour de Valley as a rider in 2003, rode in 2004, and served as team captain in 2006. From 2007 to 2019, he was on the support crew for the ride.

"That was an incredible experience," van Herk said. 

In a job that is primarily focused on the negative, he was able to give back through a seemingly mundane activity, like riding a bike.

In the midst of his time riding with Cops for Cancer, van Herk transferred to the 91Ô­´´ RCMP detachment in 2005. He spent much of the following 19 years involved with the detachment's Youth Unit, as well as serving at the main media spokesperson since 2021.

As of Jan. 15, van Herk will be officially retired, although he's planning to come back a few days a week as a reserve constable.

With less time spent policing, he'll have more time for his other hobbies and passions, including as a volunteer and organizer with competitive jump rope, through Rope Skipping Canada. Van Herk has provincials in Nelson, nationals in Saskatoon, and an international competition in Kawasaki, Japan on his schedule for 2025.

"Retirement will be just as busy," he said.