Education, prevention, intervention and enforcement are the focus of a new Community Safety Strategy that was approved by City council earlier this week.
City council’s approval came on the heels of a presentation from the Community Safety Ad Hoc Committee, which was established by City council in 2014 to engage the community in the development of this safety initiative. The result is a Community Safety Strategy that speaks to a shift in working more collaboratively and coordinated, as a community, to ensure the safety and well-being of everybody in Red Deer.
“As a committee we are proud to present a strategy that is on the leading edge of community safety, not only for Red Deerians, but also Central Alberta, other communities around Alberta, and across Canada,” said Bettylyn Baker, chair of the Community Safety Ad Hoc Committee.
“Our citizens have identified community safety as their number one priority for the City to address,” said Mayor Tara Veer. “This strategy will serve as the planning tool that drives our safety work in the community.”
With City council’s approval in principle, the City of Red Deer will work to develop an implementation plan that responds to the community report. One of the recommendations is to establish a Centre of Responsibility (COR) to bring together partners such as the RCMP, government entities with legislated mandates in the areas of health, justice, education, human services, and the City – with each organization bringing a shared level of responsibility to build on existing efforts that enhance community safety.
Another recommendation is to develop a Hub made up of front line service delivery organizations with the current mandate to serve Red Deerians in the areas of education, prevention, intervention and enforcement related to community safety
“It is the collective action of all these groups that will make the biggest impact,” said Baker.
“Community safety is recognized as one of the most important issues to Red Deerians, and this strategy is just one way we, as a community, are working to build a safer and healthier City,” said City Manager Craig Curtis.
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