On Monday, April 14, BC & Alberta Guide Dogs proudly celebrated a meaningful milestone alongside the Edmonton Police Service. Blaise, a calm and focused black Lab, was officially introduced as Alberta’s first Operational Stress Intervention (OSI) Dog placed within a police organization.

Blaise recently completed a two-week training program with his primary handler, Constable David Klein, and secondary handlers, Nicole and Kelly. Right from the beginning, Blaise impressed everyone with his task-based skills, steady presence, and natural ability to build trust with each person he encountered.

Constable Klein shared that Blaise’s impact was felt immediately. In the days between certification and the media release, Blaise was already offering support to Edmonton Police staff in both one-on-one and group settings. He had stepped into his role with confidence and heart.

“This pairing has been a long time coming, and Edmonton Police is thrilled to have Blaise join their ranks,” said Michelle, one of our Service Dog Instructors. “A huge thank you to everyone who helped bring Blaise to this point — from his early days in Puppy Raising to his time in Advanced Training. Blaise had many dedicated hands guiding his journey. Ashley and I were just the finishing touches.”

Blaise’s placement represents a first for Alberta and a significant step forward in supporting the mental health and well-being of law enforcement. His role will be to provide comfort, connection, and calm in high-stress environments — all qualities he has shown with ease since day one.

We are grateful to the Edmonton Police Service for embracing Blaise and for recognizing the unique value of service dogs in the workplace. Thank you as well to Mike Annan for attending the event and to the many volunteers, staff, and donors who helped Blaise reach this incredible moment.

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