So after completing my First Aid retraining (
Gauntlet pt 1), passing my Medical examination (
Gauntlet pt 2) and now waiting for those results, I had the last of my three trials ahead of me:
TRIAL #3: THE POLICE BACKGROUND CHECK
Now here's the thing, I've had this done for me before. Consider that I work with kids in...at least 3 different jobs/settings per year and have done so for about the past 6 years - that means for each individual thing I've had to do whether it be tour leading, tour guiding (there's a difference!), teaching in classrooms, children's entertaining, or camp counselling, I have had to do a brand new police check. That's almost 20 times to be checked over by the po-po ever since I became an adult.
Now to work on any Cruise Line, you need one done no matter what position you're in. Can't just have any criminals hopping on a ship to sail into international waters so they can sell crack and marry their horses.
There's a very specific one that needs to be done however, when you're to be working with kids.
This is called a Vulnerable Sector Check.
Now when I've done this in the past, my company just went and got my consent to do it for me- and through whatever police channels, this manages to be completed and surprise-surprise, I have no criminal record.
All I needed this time around was 2 pieces of valid ID, one with my address and photo and go to the station and pay for it to get done.
-I was counting on this to be the easiest thing I had to do since - I didn't commit any crimes since the last time (that they've found any evidence/bodies for at least). Lol jk, just in case.
What I wasn't counting on, was the overall incompetence of the Toronto Police Service.
Yep - now this isn't just me saying this, it's every Cruise company, and the whole Disney Corporation that all very likely find the Toronto Police service incredibly difficult and ineffective when it comes to processing these so if you're a permanent resident of Toronto and you're looking to get this done, you're kinda screwed with having to deal with them. When you could just drive 15-20 minutes to the next municipality like Vaughan, Brampton or Mississauga and it'll be done like *that*, if you lived there - I'll explain.
SO I go to the Toronto Police Station downtown. This place has very specific hours of operation for Police Checks and the sort, so I went down early to get 'er done. When I got to the building, there was a sign taped to the window:
"For Background Checks for Employment, go to this other place that we can't be bothered to give you directions to but here's an address and good luck."
(That may or may not be what it said. Nevertheless I walked a good half hour to get to the place)
I get there, wait in line, which takes up a good 20 minutes. Because this is after all, downtown Toronto. Finally I get up to speak to the bored-looking lady at the desk:
Me: Hi, I'd like to get a Police Reference check done?
-Did you go online and print off the form?
Yeah I went online, but it was just a general one, I need a Vulnerable Sector check.
-Do you need it for a job?
Yeah I do.
-Do you have a police check request form from them?
No, they didn't send me one.
-Did they ask you to get you one?
Yeah they said they needed to have one completed and sent back to them.
-Are they registered with our program?
I....don't know.
-They need to be registered with our program or they can't have it done.
Ok, they probably are - they do their training here in Toronto after all.
-Ok, what's the company?
Disney Cruise Lines.
-What's that?
It's a cruise company run by Disney, I'll be working as a Youth Activities Counsellor on board.
*Lady slithers away and confers with a guy nearby. I overhear her asking if Disney actually has a cruise line. The guy comes walking over*
-Hi sir, it's a cruise line?
Yes.
-Nope, they're not listed here. Is it a Canadian company?
No, I'm pretty sure it's not.
-The police can only do vulnerable sector checks for employment based in Canada.
But they hire Canadians to work on board, my friend did it last year and got his check done.
-I'm sorry, but if your employment isn't in Canada, we can't fingerprint you or do the check.
But the recruitment agency that placed me is based in Canada.
-It needs to be the company you're working for, not a recruiter.
So Disney's not registered with your program.
-No, it's not.
So.....what can I do now?
-You can ask the Cruise Line to register for our program here in Toronto and once your company does that and that's been processed you can apply for your Vulnerable Sector check.
So, there's nothing I can do in the meantime?
-I'm afraid so. Anything else I can help you with?
Pfft. Apparently not.
So I email my PA - Professional Crew Advisor and tell them what happened. When she emails me back, I can almost her the sigh in her voice - APPARENTLY, the Toronto Police Service has been screwing over applicants for a long time now as I'm definitely one out of many who've had these issues. They won't listen to them because they're not Disney, and they won't listen to Disney because they're not in Canada. Ugh.
But then I realised that the address on my Driver's License was still in my hometown where my parents lived, even though I moved out to live in Toronto just this year. The problem was, I distinctly remember losing my Driver's License in New York City over the summer. Nevertheless I tole my PA that would try to apply for the background check with the police service in my hometown and she thought that was a good idea and to let her know how it went while they tried to sort things out with Toronto.
- Sooooooooooooooo just so you're aware, for me to get home-home from my place downtown Toronto it's about 2 hours of a bus, a train and a bus ride- followed by a 30 minute walk from the bus station alongside a ranch, a field with a barn in it and a golf course before I reach my old neighbourhood. I'm not joking.
I decided to call up my hometown police service just to make sure everything worked out.
Lady: Hello, Peel Regional Police.
"Uhhh hi, I just have a question - I need to get my Vulnerable Sector Check done but I don't have a driver's license anymore."
Lady: Not a problem, just bring in something that has your home address on it.
"Like,would mail do?"
Lady: Sure, but it just can't be something your friend sent you. Something official, like government.
"Would tax receipts work?"
Lady: That would be perfect. See you here!
That reassured me quite a bit. I trekked all the way home and spent the night scrounging through my things for something -anything with my hometown address. Luckily - BAM - I found my tax statements form the government, still addressed to home. Fantastic. I was set to go to the Police Office the next day - which was, mind you - another hour and a half by bus across town.
Sooo yet again I make it to my third Police Station this week, this time the Peel Regional Police.
- I get there, I walk right up to the counter- no lines!
I speak to another police station lady behind the counter.
"Hi there, I'd like to get a Police Check done?"
-Is this a Vulnerable Sector check?
"Yep."
-Ok, who's your employer?
"Disney Cruise Lines."
-Perfect. Here ya go.
- I had to fill out a form where I clearly stated the company I was working for, what ship/location and what my job was to be.
- I also had to briefly fill in my past employment history and any alternate addresses I had over the past 5 years.
- Finally, I had to show them my identification and address and the lady takes it, and signs it and asks me to pay $45.
- I swipe my debit card, and BAM.
-It'll take about 2 weeks to process and it'll come in the mail. Need anything else?" The lady asked behind the counter.
"Nope!"
-Have a nice day sir.
And with that, I was good to go - no problems, way faster and more efficient than Toronto. The whole thing took maybe 10 minutes, tops.
I waited anxiously and 2 weeks later on the dot - IT CAME BACK!
Pretty much the exact same form I filled out except signed with a wee scribble in the bottom and a boxed checked off that says that I passed my Police Vulnerable Sector Reference Check.
I send it digitally to my PA, and that was it! I was officially through The Gauntlet. I did everything I needed to do, and now I just had to wait for them to book my flight, assign me a start date and I could set sail!!!!
Hooray!
UP NEXT: The exciting information comes pouring in
