Tate Jackson Burke, a Wheatland County local, has won the 2024 RCMP Name the Puppy contest.

The initiative launched on February 22, inviting kids across Canada to send their name suggestions for the first 13 puppies born at the Police Dog Services Training Centre in 2024.

corporalTate Burke with his certificate outside of Strathmore RCMP headquarters. 

This year, all names had to start with the letter "T," and Burke picked the name Tess. 

"I copied my dog's name, which means a lot to me," said Burke. 

There were over 6,000 online entries. However, only 13 won the contest.

  • Tank - Scarlet Fitzgerald (Whitehorse, Yukon)
  • Trooper - Owen Hawco (Colliers, Newfoundland & Labrador)
  • Theo - Odin Arnold (Village Green, Prince Edward Island)
  • Thor - Sloane Neufeld (The Pas, Manitoba)
  • Tess - Tate Jackson Burke (Wheatland County, Alberta)
  • Tia - Olivia Lacasse (Montreal, Quebec)
  • Teddy - Vance Kress (Odessa, Saskatchewan)
  • Tuktu - Grace Britton (Resolute Bay, Nunavut)
  • Tilly - Edie Venne (Hay River, Northwest Territories)
  • Tori - Wayne Eluik (Sparwood, British Columbia)
  • Tucker - Breah Voegeli (Falmouth, Nova Scotia)
  • Turbo - Forrest Woodrow (Sioux Lookout, Ontario)
  • Tula - Ethan Johnston (Berwick, New Brunswick)

Each of the 13 winners, one from each province and territory, received a laminated 8X10-inch photo of the pup they named, a plush dog, Justice, and an RCMP water bottle.

Corporal Paul Cook, currently with the Calgary Police Dog Services, said the puppy naming contest started 10 years ago.

"It was a more aligned system with keeping track of our dogs. So, every year, they name it with a certain letter, and it's got to be no more than a two-syllable name."

Cook explained that since he joined the force in 2006, he has had a plethora of K9s.

"I had dogs named Raiden, Elvis, Enoch, and Hunter, and now I got Pascal. So, Pascal was born in 2022; it was the letter P." 

tbTate Burke with Corporal Paul Cook and his K9, Pascal. 

For those who want to get a head start on names for next year's contest, they have to start with the letter "A."

"I don't think they're going to go with the U's. Because U's are difficult to find proper names for that many dogs going through the program," says Cook.

Burke was thrilled that his choice was one of the names that got picked up.

"I was very excited to have won!"

Cook left off by congratulating Burke for winning the contest.

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