By Colton Swiderski

First ever community safety conference set for Ile-a-La Crosse

Sep 29, 2016 | 8:34 AM

The northern village of Ile-a-La Crosse is set to host the first ever community safety conference north of Prince Albert.

In years past, residents would attend the Northern Justice Symposium in P.A., but town Councillor Donny Favel noticed not all the information was relayed back to the community.

He said, instead of spending money to send people to P.A., council decided it would be more beneficial to host a conference themselves, bring people to Ile-a-La Crosse, and let them share stories for everyone in the community and surrounding communities.

“What we find most times, there’s a lot of good things that happen there (Northern Justice Symposium) but a lot of the times, that good information doesn’t trickle down to the rest of the people,” Favel said. “And if it does trickle down, it comes to those selected to sit at the table as board members and lots of times it doesn’t get out to the rest of the community.”

Sessions will include seminars with Harold Johnson, who’s releasing a book on alcoholism. The conference will also comprise aboriginal police who will speak on their experiences as RCMP officers.

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Other seminars include information on alternative measures and the importance of keeping youth out of jail and active in the community.

RCMP detachment commander, Sgt. Tara Norman said education is the most important aspect about the conference.

“I believe in partnership with the community, we as the RCMP can do a better job,” she said. “It’s issues such as addictions and youth crime, drug use… I believe the solutions are not just enforcement based, I believe partnering with the community we can come up with better solutions.”

Norman added, the seminars and workshops will be an excellent way to educate residents on community safety, root causes of addictions and will teach them ways to lead a safer, healthier life.

Crime Stoppers, citizens on patrol, and other community policing groups will also be there to answer questions and recruit new members.

The conference is set for Sept. 30 at 10 a.m. and held in the high school. The event is $25, while seniors and children get in free.

Colton Swiderski is meadowlakeNOW’s municipal affairs, crime and court, health and education reporter. He can be reached at cswiderski@jpbg.ca or tweet him @coltonswiderski.

by Colton Swiderski

First ever community safety conference set for Ile-a-La Crosse

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