DRUG USAGE, GANG ACTIVITY FOCUS OF MEETING

The presentation was the second in a series of three sponsored by the
Nipawin school division to determine if there are drug and or gang
activities in the area and how prevalent the problem is.

Often described as the offspring of big city poverty and the glamorization
of American urban ghettoism, the phenomenon of gangs and gangster activity
has permeated its way throughout society and threatens to make its way to
northern, rural Saskatchewan.

That, in part, was the message at a recent seminar in Nipawin hosted by the
Nipawin school division that featured a presentation by the Saskatoon
Integrated Intelligence Unit.

Despite a frigidly cold night, a large gathering was on hand at L.P. Miller
School where they were informed of the various different gangs in
Saskatchewan, their methods, characteristics, dress and objectives.

The presentation was the second in a series of three sponsored by the
Nipawin school division to determine if there are drug and or gang
activities in the area and how prevalent the problem is.

"It started last spring when we as a school division, working very closely
with many community organizations, started seeing signs related to drug use
both in and out of school," said Gordon Benton a School Plus Consultant
with the local school board.

"We also started seeing a few signs of graffiti on some school walls and
other buildings, we started seeing some general vandalism around town and
we were starting to see signs related to drugs and were wondering if we
were starting to see signs of gangs," he added.

"It wasn't as if we were noticing horrendous threats to our security as a
community," Benton said. "We just wanted to be informed and take pro-active
approaches rather than ignoring it and letting ourselves fall into a case
where we had a bad situation and had no other choice but to react to solve it."

Benton said the school division, in partnership with public service
providers such as Social Services, and the RCMP took a four-part approach
to examine the issue of drug usage and gang activity in the community.

Firstly, the discussions focused on how the community could recognize drug
or gang activity, then, what are the different types of drugs and gangs in
the area.

That was followed by examining how an individual could recognize the same
activity in a relative, friend or associate and finally, how should one
respond without jeopardizing their own safety or security.

"I don't think anybody would think we have a problem, "Benton said. "We
just decided to take the approach to address it up front, positively and in
a pro-active way rather than ignoring some of these signs and let it evolve
where we really have to react in a desperate way."

Over 300 people were in attendance at the first presentation in April that
dealt strictly with illegal drugs and drug-related issues while another 80
were in attendance for the December 7th discussion about gangs, numbers
that Benton said shows the concern in the area.

"It shows that the community is wanting to be vigilant. That the community
has accepted the fact that if there is something going on here, let's find
out so we know what to do about it," he said.Newshawk: Herb
Pubdate: Wed, 29 Dec 2004
Source: Nipawin Journal, The (CN SN)
Copyright: 2004 The Nipawin Journal
Contact: njournal@sk.sympatico.ca
Website: http://www.nipawinjournal.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/867
Author: James Taylor

DRUG USAGE, GANG ACTIVITY FOCUS OF MEETING

The presentation was the second in a series of three sponsored by the
Nipawin school division to determine if there are drug and or gang
activities in the area and how prevalent the problem is.

Often described as the offspring of big city poverty and the glamorization
of American urban ghettoism, the phenomenon of gangs and gangster activity
has permeated its way throughout society and threatens to make its way to
northern, rural Saskatchewan.

That, in part, was the message at a recent seminar in Nipawin hosted by the
Nipawin school division that featured a presentation by the Saskatoon
Integrated Intelligence Unit.

Despite a frigidly cold night, a large gathering was on hand at L.P. Miller
School where they were informed of the various different gangs in
Saskatchewan, their methods, characteristics, dress and objectives.

The presentation was the second in a series of three sponsored by the
Nipawin school division to determine if there are drug and or gang
activities in the area and how prevalent the problem is.

"It started last spring when we as a school division, working very closely
with many community organizations, started seeing signs related to drug use
both in and out of school," said Gordon Benton a School Plus Consultant
with the local school board.

"We also started seeing a few signs of graffiti on some school walls and
other buildings, we started seeing some general vandalism around town and
we were starting to see signs related to drugs and were wondering if we
were starting to see signs of gangs," he added.

"It wasn't as if we were noticing horrendous threats to our security as a
community," Benton said. "We just wanted to be informed and take pro-active
approaches rather than ignoring it and letting ourselves fall into a case
where we had a bad situation and had no other choice but to react to solve it."

Benton said the school division, in partnership with public service
providers such as Social Services, and the RCMP took a four-part approach
to examine the issue of drug usage and gang activity in the community.

Firstly, the discussions focused on how the community could recognize drug
or gang activity, then, what are the different types of drugs and gangs in
the area.

That was followed by examining how an individual could recognize the same
activity in a relative, friend or associate and finally, how should one
respond without jeopardizing their own safety or security.

"I don't think anybody would think we have a problem, "Benton said. "We
just decided to take the approach to address it up front, positively and in
a pro-active way rather than ignoring some of these signs and let it evolve
where we really have to react in a desperate way."

Over 300 people were in attendance at the first presentation in April that
dealt strictly with illegal drugs and drug-related issues while another 80
were in attendance for the December 7th discussion about gangs, numbers
that Benton said shows the concern in the area.

"It shows that the community is wanting to be vigilant. That the community
has accepted the fact that if there is something going on here, let's find
out so we know what to do about it," he said.