Kalvero “Kavi” Ruuskanen

Kavi Ruuskanen, has proudly worn a Canterbury constable’s uniform for the past 38 Years and is running for election, he says, so he “can continue protecting and serving our town”. He has more than 800 hours of relevant training and has served as Assistant Chief Constable and interim Chief Constable. In addition, he has experience preparing the Constable department’s annual budget, and earned a diploma as a Municipal Police Officer from the Connecticut State Police Academy in 1992. He also attended a1993 seminar on Gangs and Subcultures and has served on the South East Activities Group in New London. He has been on the Board of Directors of the National Constable Association, served as Interim President of the Connecticut State Constables Association and as President of the Connecticut Constables Quinebaug Valley Chapter. He received a 2001 Public Service Award for twenty five-years as a Constable.

Kavi remains an active member and past vice-president of the Canterbury Volunteer Fire Company, an organization he has been serving for the past 51 years. He was one of the town’s six original EMTs and served on the ambulance for 21 years where he was Administrative Lieutenant. He currently works as a security officer for US Security Associates and was a farmer in his youth. He earned a 2-year certificate in Poultry Farming from the University of Connecticut’s Ratcliffe Hicks School of Agriculture, was a member of the Windham County International Farm Youth Committee and a member of the Canterbury Grange. He served on Canterbury’s Tercentennial Committee. He is the superintendent of the Adams Cemetery. He has lived in town for 68 years and enjoys fishing, hiking, hunting and skiing.

Raymond Shinkiewicz

Ray Shinkiewicz has served as a town constable for four years and is seeking re-election. He loves being out and about in Canterbury --- something his position as Chief Constable and Inland Wetland and Watercourses Commission board member gives him the opportunity to do.  Ray grew up in town on his family’s farm where worked alongside both his grandfather and father. His love of, and respect for the land prompted him to study and take Wetlands courses and he served as the Board’s Interim Wetlands officer.

He has also served the town as chairman of the Economic Development Commission. He retired from the Navy’s Naval Undersea Warfare Center and is a member of the Canterbury VFW. He is also semi-retired from the General Dynamics as a lead Tech. He and his wife Victoria raised two children here in town and he loves spending time with his grandchildren.