A 10-year-old girl from Oakville is thrilled after her name choice was picked in the Royal Canadian Mounted Police’s annual Name the Puppy Contest.
Grade 4 student Parker Beaton was named Manitoba’s winner in this nationwide competition, which invites kids all over Canada to help name future RCMP Police Dog Service puppies. This year’s contest required names to start with the letter ‘B’, and Parker’s entry, “Bohdie,” stood out among thousands from Manitoba.
Parker’s mom, Brittany Young, shared that they found the contest online and decided to give it a shot.
“We were coming back from Winnipeg one day and I saw a Facebook post about it,” Young said. “I thought it would be fun to enter. We went through a bunch of B names, and Bohdie came up.”
For Parker, the idea for the winning name came easily.
“It kind of just came to mind,” she said.
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Parker and Brittany on the day they received news that her scans were clear (Photo submitted by Brittany Young)
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The Surprise Phone Call
A few months after entering the contest, Young received an unexpected phone call. “I was a little bit scared because all I heard was, ‘This is the RCMP,'” she laughed. “My first thought was, ‘What did I do?'” The call wasn’t about any trouble. RCMP officials informed her that Parker had been chosen as Manitoba’s winner. The family entered the contest in fall 2025 but had to keep their excitement under wraps for several months while waiting for the puppies’ birth and the official announcement. When Parker found out she won, she expressed feeling “very happy and excited.”A Special Visit
This win brought more than just recognition. A local RCMP canine officer later visited their home with police service dogs and gifts for Parker. Eagerly awaiting her puppy’s arrival, Parker still enjoyed meeting two other RCMP police dogs during this special visit. “They gave me a stuffy, a picture of the puppy I named, and a water bottle,” she said. This visit allowed Parker to connect with a canine officer and learn more about how these dogs serve with the RCMP.A Bright Spot During Difficult Years
Parker’s success comes after an incredibly tough journey for her family. Parker was diagnosed with a brain tumor when she was in Grade 1. She went through six-hour surgery in Winnipeg on Mother’s Day followed by radiation treatments. About a year later, when it returned, it required another brain surgery along with additional radiation and chemotherapy. The family faced hard news in December when Parker entered palliative care. Soon after though, things took a positive turn. “We got her scans back in March, and everything is clear,” Young said tearfully. “It’s gone.” Parker will have another MRI in July but right now they’re focusing on celebrating good news like this moment together. “It’s exciting and kind of relaxing that we don’t have to think about other things,” Young said. “We can just enjoy her winning something.”Pushing Other Kids to Participate
Parker hopes others are inspired by her story to enter contests when they see them around.“It’s really fun,” she said. “You just don’t know if you’re going to win or not.”
Younger agrees too! She’s already got thoughts for next year’s participants lined up.
“Puppies next year will need C names,” she mentioned smilingly. “Kids should get their entries ready. You just never know.”A simple online contest turned into an unforgettable experience for one Oakville student-a national honor full of reasons to celebrate!
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