PARENTS RALLY TO CLEAN UP COMPLEX

COLLINGWOOD - A group of local parents has rallied together to take back
their community from the drugs and violence they say has permeated their
neighbourhood.

Sandra McLeod has lived in Matthew Way since it opened nearly a decade ago,
and says the drug problems in the cooperative housing project are the worst
they've been for 10 years.

"It's had its ups and downs, but this is the worst," McLeod said. "It's
always been there, but it's remained within the walls (of individual units)."

The problem hit home for her after her nine-year-old son described a
hashish pipe a teenager in the complex was using.

The main impetus for the group came, however, after at least five children
were shot at with a pellet gun.

"It's just incredible," McLeod said.

Arlene Brownridge, a mother of three who also sits on the co-op's board of
directors, says this coalition of parents ? who are referring to themselves
as ?Take Back Our Community' ? is doing what the board is prevented from
doing through its bylaws. Since the group launched itself a week ago, there
have been 10-to-14 parents out patrolling the complex at night.

The first night out, they came across a person who had been ordered not to
trespass on the property; the parents also kept a young person they say was
intoxicated and violent from causing any problems until that person went
back to his unit.

The problems have been so bad, Brownridge said, that parents haven't been
allowing their young children out to play because of the intimidation and
drugs, adding that some children have indicated they've been given drugs to
use, or deliver.

"The co-op has always had this label of ?the projects' or ?the hood', and
when kids live in that kind of environment, that's how they tend to
behave," said group member Lori McCarthy. "If we can give the cooperative a
better name, it will give the kids a better self perception."

Brownridge added that attempts have been made in the past to start youth
group activities in the complex; the programs were always successful at the
outset, but became victim to lack of interest as they carried on.

While the neighbourhood may not have more or less crime than any other area
in town, according to the Collingwood OPP, Sgt. John Trude said the group
is a great example of community policing.

"It (Matthew Way) is not really an area that we would consider a problem...
(but) those standards are set by the community," Trude said. "It is a great
concept for these people, and if they can get 20-to-30 people together and
make a difference, that's great.

"It's always in our best interest" when a citizen's group like this forms,
he said. "It means we don't have to solve crimes, because they're being
prevented."

Both Trude and McCarthy emphasize that the group is not meant to be
vigilante in nature.

"We're not targeting people ? we're trying to protect our children,"
McCarthy said. "We want people to know that when they walk in our area,
they had better tread lightly because there will be a lot of eyes and ears
open."

Anyone interested in volunteering with the group can drop by the common
room at the Matthew Way cooperative on Monday nights at 7 p.m.