‘Buddy system’

Fort Richmond

Waverley West

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This article was published 30/10/2024 (585 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Lauri Eagles thinks the key to neighbourhood safety is the basic concept of ‘safety in numbers.’

The Fort Richmond resident was one of many people who attended and spoke on Oct. 23 at an annual community safety forum for the Fort Richmond neighbourhood, where Winnipeg Police Service officers and city councillors Markus Chambers (St. Norbert-Seine River) and Janice Lukes (Waverley West) heard concerns about safety and petty crime in the area.

Some residents came frustrated and prepared, and there was a heavy focus on youth crime and lack of supports for vulnerable or traumatized young adults living in the area and/or attending Fort Richmond Collegiate. Discussion turned to debate several times throughout the evening, especially when residents asked about mental health supports available for young people.

“We (the city) don’t have a mental health department,” Lukes explained, adding that provincial programs play a large role. Fort Richmond MLA Jennifer Chen was present but didn’t comment.

“I have a solution,” Eagles said, who stood up to speak during a particularly heated moment. The mother and teacher has been going on “parent patrols” near school property since the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Because she knows the kids, she’s built a rapport with students over the last three years.

“To keep the kids accountable … you have to make relationships,” she said. “What can be done? Get to know them.”

The concept is almost “emulating Bear Clan,” Eagles said later, although she doesn’t want to take away from the cultural origins of the North End-based safety patrol.

“I thought, ‘Well, I can just walk around. Try to get something going,’” she said, but pointed out there are “a lot of variables.”

“It’s hard to find people who are available. And people are afraid,” Eagles said, adding that language and mobility barriers have also been an issue. She often patrols on her own.

Her idea was supported by other residents at the forum, who stressed the importance of getting involved: “The community isn’t gonna fix itself without volunteers.”

One longtime resident noted said he was a disruptive kid but that his youth was improved after the time spent at the local community centre. Another expressed worry that the same community centre isn’t full of kids as it once was. With a lack of current accessible supports, the group discussed ways of “getting the kids involved,” and promoting “social interaction.”

Other issues discussed included theft, vehicle and home break-ins, harassment, unsafe boarding houses, addiction, dangerous driving along Dalhousie Drive, and improving the “crappy little playground” in Dalhousie Forest, which is often used by children new to Canada.

Shawn Gallant, a Winnipeg Police Service constable who spoke at the forum, encouraged “bringing back Neighbourhood Watch” and following Bear Clan’s example. But he also warned people to stay away from those actively committing crimes.

“I wouldn’t advise anyone to chase anything,” Gallant said, encouraging people to report incidents to the WPS online. “If you don’t report it, we don’t know it’s happening.”

Gallant also pushed the use of a neighbourhood Facebook group, as residents are able to speak to each other in real time.

“Something can be high priority as a citizen, but in the triage of the police, (it’s) very low priority,” he said. He encouraged residents to get to know their neighbours and create a “buddy system” in the community.

“I would hate for you guys to look outside and hope that your neighbour’s bike doesn’t get stolen … the ‘hope’ method doesn’t work,” he said.