News (Media Awareness Project) - CN ON: Stepping Up The Fight In Kenora |
| Title: | CN ON: Stepping Up The Fight In Kenora |
| Published On: | 2003-12-04 |
| Source: | Kenora Daily Miner And News (CN ON) |
| Fetched On: | 2008-01-19 04:28:01 |
STEPPING UP THE FIGHT IN KENORA
The Kenora Police Services Board is poised to step up the fight against
gang activity in Kenora. At the board's regular meeting Wednesday, Mayor
Dave Canfield said their anti-gang activities should go to "Stage Two" in
the form of a public awareness campaign.
"Let's pick a community partner and push it up one extra step," Canfield said.
Board chairman Gord McTaggart agreed.
"The mayor is right," McTaggart said. "Let's take it to the next level.
There was a huge turnout for the speaker on bullying."
To date, the three police forces in Kenora - Kenora Police Service, the OPP
and Treaty 3 - each have assigned a member to examine the problem.
Also on the case is the Tri-Force/Kenora Joint Forces Drug Unit comprised
of members of Kenora Police Service, the OPP and the RCMP. The police
services board thinks it's time to launch a public awareness campaign.
Ideas they tossed around Wednesday afternoon were a campaign similar to the
seatbelt campaign and bringing in a speaker who has first-hand knowledge of
the problem.
Kenora Police Chief George Curtis said when he was at university in the
1960s and 1970s, singer Johnny Cash was brought in by the University of
Manitoba speakers' union.
He said Cash, who had used every kind of illicit drug, engaged the students
when he told them how he'd pulled himself out of the gutter.
"This isn't cops coming in to give you a speech," Curtis noted.
While the board hasn't yet identified a speaker, they suggested he or she
should be accompanied on stage by drug experts.
While there has been some talk recently about the existence of youth gangs
in Kenora, OPP Staff Sgt. Don Denver said he doesn't think the groups of
youth are gangs in the traditional sense.
A seminar held in Kenora last April painted a picture for city council,
educators and business people about Kenora's drug problem and its
connection to biker gangs.
At the seminar, Kenora Police drug expert Const. Rheal Gosselin said 90 per
cent of local robberies and break-ins can be tied to crack addicts.
The Kenora Police Services Board is poised to step up the fight against
gang activity in Kenora. At the board's regular meeting Wednesday, Mayor
Dave Canfield said their anti-gang activities should go to "Stage Two" in
the form of a public awareness campaign.
"Let's pick a community partner and push it up one extra step," Canfield said.
Board chairman Gord McTaggart agreed.
"The mayor is right," McTaggart said. "Let's take it to the next level.
There was a huge turnout for the speaker on bullying."
To date, the three police forces in Kenora - Kenora Police Service, the OPP
and Treaty 3 - each have assigned a member to examine the problem.
Also on the case is the Tri-Force/Kenora Joint Forces Drug Unit comprised
of members of Kenora Police Service, the OPP and the RCMP. The police
services board thinks it's time to launch a public awareness campaign.
Ideas they tossed around Wednesday afternoon were a campaign similar to the
seatbelt campaign and bringing in a speaker who has first-hand knowledge of
the problem.
Kenora Police Chief George Curtis said when he was at university in the
1960s and 1970s, singer Johnny Cash was brought in by the University of
Manitoba speakers' union.
He said Cash, who had used every kind of illicit drug, engaged the students
when he told them how he'd pulled himself out of the gutter.
"This isn't cops coming in to give you a speech," Curtis noted.
While the board hasn't yet identified a speaker, they suggested he or she
should be accompanied on stage by drug experts.
While there has been some talk recently about the existence of youth gangs
in Kenora, OPP Staff Sgt. Don Denver said he doesn't think the groups of
youth are gangs in the traditional sense.
A seminar held in Kenora last April painted a picture for city council,
educators and business people about Kenora's drug problem and its
connection to biker gangs.
At the seminar, Kenora Police drug expert Const. Rheal Gosselin said 90 per
cent of local robberies and break-ins can be tied to crack addicts.
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