The most recent evaluation of the Council’s community plan illustrated what various elements of WRCPC’s culture look like in action... read more.
WRCPC is made up of 40 diverse sector leaders from our community who pool together their perspective, knowledge, networks and resources to creating a deeper community commitment to prevention through public education, community development and evidence-based decision making for the Region of Waterloo. Together they strive to shift the focus of crime prevention upstream, building a community foundation where all citizens experience safety and wellbeing equitably.
Upstream approaches to community safety and wellbeing are about more than just the absence of crime; they are about creating a place where everyone has a range of opportunities to grow, learn, work, play, connect, love and be loved.
It takes a whole community to create safer homes, schools, workplaces, faith communities, neighbourhoods and cities. When we work together, we can create change that lasts.
The Federal government is encouraged to implement a National Strategy on Crime Prevention, in consultation with Provincial and Municipal governments. Soon after, Regional Council makes a motion to invest in crime prevention at a local level. Police Chief Larry Gravill leads the Crime Prevention Steering Committee.
The first council (named the Community Safety & Crime Prevention Council) is formed and is comprised of 26 members representing different sectors of the community. A full-time Program Coordinator is hired.
Nieghbourhood action kit developed with actions and ideas for people to implement at home, work, school and neighbourhoods to a build stronger, safer community.
Safe and Sound mobilizes residents in four neighbourhoods to build safer, healthier communities. The project also demonstrates the unique capacity of neighbourhood mobilization to address crime in ways that are locally meaningful and sustainable. The Safe & Sound initiative worked with neighbourhood residents in three pilot sites – in Cambridge, Kitchener and Waterloo – to build safer, healthier communities. Neighbourhoods designed and implemented projects that addressed the root causes of crime – like local beautification projects, positive parenting courses and police-youth mentoring programs.
This initiative was funded for 3 years by the National Strategy for Crime Prevention.
In response to changes to the Youth Criminal Justice Act, the “Look Deeper” campaign challenges the public’s perception of youth while breaking stereotypes. The campaign encourages people to ‘Look Deeper’ to value the strengths youth offer.
Small steps build safe communities. The Say HI campaign promotes a sense of caring, belonging and responsibility and encourages people to get to know their neighbours by saying hi.
The Neighbour to Neighbour Toolkit provided stories, resources and tips to build strong communities. Over 200 Toolkits were provided to neighbourhood associations, community centres, and residents. These resources have been compiled as one downloadable document. The original Toolkit is available for viewing at the office of the Waterloo Region Crime Prevention Council. Contact us to see what’s under the lid.
This unique film series featured rare films and learning opportunities to provide rare and real perspectives into issues of substance use and addiction. This unique series, featuring rare films, training, workshops and keynote speakers, offered a glimpse at life through the eyes of someone suffering with an addiction; attempting to overcome an addiction; or affected by problematic substance use – spouses, children, parents, and friends. In The Mind’s Eye offered a vehicle for moving forward on critical local issues. In The Mind’s Eye reached more than 11,000 people at more than 225 free events across Waterloo Region over nine years.
The Integrated Model is a comprehensive look at the prevention, intervention, post-intervention, recovery, and renewal phases throughout the cycle of crime. It identifies how neighbourhood services, law enforcement, human service providers, policy makers, and citizens can each play a vital role.
A 40-year Violence Prevention Plan for Waterloo Region. Programs that reduce violence and recidivism are by far the most cost-effective strategy in long-term violence reduction.
School Say Hi Day was celebrated for 10 years in partnership with local school boards. By saying Hi, students get to know each other while promoting a greater sense of belonging and inclusion. A connected school is a safer school.
inREACH, was a federally-funded youth street gang prevention program that assisted youth between the ages of 13-24 in Waterloo Region. It provided supports in the area of mental health, substance use, education, employment and family support as well as mentorship programs and recreation supports for youth at risk.
This Annual Forum created an opportunity for discussing real life challenges for federally-sentenced women, including Mental Health and Addictions, Employability, Housing, Community Connections and Recreation.
Preventing crime before it happens is the smart thing to do. Smart on Crime in Waterloo Region was the first community plan released under the ‘Smart on Crime’ theme. It established a solid foundation for an approach to community safety that focused on local needs and capacities.
The Integrated Drugs Strategy offered 99 recommendations to prevent, reduce or eliminate problematic substance use and its consequences. The actions recommended change through Prevention, Recovery & Rehabilitation, Harm Reduction, Enforcement & Justice.
In 2012, the CPC released the report Between Life and Death: Barriers to Calling 911 in an Overdose Emergency. This lead to the Good Samaritan Act in 2018 and advocating for Naloxone provision and administration training. In September 2019, WRCPC conducted a study on the unregulated market concerning Safe Supply. This research inspired the (Un)Safe Infographics and a series of Webinars WRCPC released in 2021.
Launched in partnership with local school boards, police, and youth mental health agencies, the THINK campaign promoted respectful and responsible digital citizenship through positive use of social media. THINK was adopted by all schools in Waterloo Region and was shared across North America.
Following a forum by the same name, the Breaking the Silence On Hidden Violence report committed to addressing hate crime and violence against the LGBTQ community in Waterloo Region. Recommendations were made for action to take an individual, community and systems level.
Community wellbeing starts upstream. Upstream approaches to community safety and wellbeing are about more than just the absence of crime; they are about creating a place where everyone has a range of opportunities to grow, learn, work, play, connect, love, and be loved. WRCPC released the #StartUPstream campaign and resources in 2018, making upstream approaches integral to the council’s work. In 2021, WRCPC launched an ongoing speaker series discussing Upstream prevention concepts and strategies from various perspectives. Join us Upstream! Together, let’s (re)think our community.
The WRCPC, the Sexual Assault Support Centre Waterloo Region (SASCWR), and the Registry Theatre engaged with community partners to launch a series of initiatives raising awareness of Human Sex Trafficking in Waterloo region. This included a screening of the Canadian film Honey Bee and a small tour of the production Chelsea’s Story in 2019. In 2021, the play was remounted online by the MT Space, partnering with WRCPC and SASCWR, alongside virtual panels, workshops, and a film screening. MT Space’s production will be touring various school across Ontario in 2022 and beyond, to learn more and find information on how to book a performance visit MT Space's website.
Through the COVID-19 Pandemic, Waterloo Region saw a 28% increase of domestic violence charges over the year of lockdowns. The WRCPC took action through collaborating on the Keep Families Safe Initiatives, including a virtual Porch Chats series. The council also partnered with the Women’s Crisis Centre of Waterloo Region, DART, and Theatre of the Beat to create Unmute, a virtual play that performed across Canada. This play inspired the Unmute Podcast, now available on most major streaming platforms.
The Waterloo Region Crime Prevention Council has focused for many years on identifying and offsetting the root causes of crime. Moving forward we want to address the more foundational structures and harms under those root causes, moving upstream to the source, instead of treating the subsequent results farther downstream.
To find out what’s new with WRCPC, check for updates and upcoming events on our website and social media. Recordings are available online for many recent events on the Videos page under Our Research. To get information directly to your inbox, email upstreamwr@gmail.com to join our new newsletter.
