Author Archive
Posted on: August 12th, 2021 by Waterloo Region Crime Prevention Council
KITCHENER – In 2021, Waterloo Region has seen several shootings, which has many in the community concerned, as local experts want to see more authentic prevention.
However, funding is not consistent, and even with a successful prevention program, “it gets shut down after three to four years, gun violence, other types of violence start to increase, we fund it again for another three to four years, we shut it down, it’s like groundhog day, every day,” said Michael Parkinson with the Waterloo Region Crime Prevention Council.
There was a program called inReach – a federally funded youth street gang prevention program that ran for several years, however, funding dried up.
Also, Parkinson mentioned there is a successful program in the region, which is supported by garage sales and GoFundMe accounts, “and they work with children in the daycare setting, through to teens, young adults, and into adulthood.”
Read more…
Posted on: August 10th, 2021 by Waterloo Region Crime Prevention Council
WATERLOO — After a rash of shootings in Waterloo Region over the past several weeks, experts say more needs to be done at the community level to prevent a surge in violent crime.
So far this year, there have been 10 shootings in the region, with five coming since July.
“I hope this isn’t the start of a trend,” said Michael Parkinson with the Waterloo Region Crime Prevention Council.
Parkinson says neighbourhood access to recreation programs for young people to provide sports and arts as an outlet is an important step and offers the chance for young people to “engage in a different lifestyle.”
“We want to support community centres and we want to promote engagement between citizens, getting to know your neighbour and reaching out because it’s true what they say, that it takes a village to raise a child and that’s where we are and that’s where the benefit is in reducing not only gun-related violence but all other forms of crime,” he said.
Parkinson said it’s a long-term solution that will pay off in the future, adding these programs need sustainable funding.
Read more…
Posted on: August 5th, 2021 by Waterloo Region Crime Prevention Council
“The earlier in life we can address those risk factors, the better for everybody, not just for the person, for the victims, but also for the community.” Michael Parkinson
CBC NEWS – Waterloo regional police have responded to eight shootings so far this year, three in the last two weeks. That should be sparking a conversation on how to prevent further gun violence, says Michael Parkinson of the Waterloo Region Crime Prevention Council.
In the past week and a half, there have been three shootings in Kitchener. While the headlines often list the number of people injured, killed and arrested, Michael Parkinson wants those crimes to also spur a conversation about what can be done to prevent further gun violence in the community.
“The action that I think the community is looking for is really those efforts to prevent the harm happening in the first place, to address some of the root causes,” Parkinson said in an interview.
But despite having decades of experience, Parkinson says the challenge is in finding resources to fund initiatives that are known to reduce crime and victimization across the region. He says some of those initiatives include focusing on risk factors for young people who may be led to engage in crime. Read more…
Posted on: July 27th, 2021 by Waterloo Region Crime Prevention Council
The Waterloo Region Crime Prevention Council’s Michael Parkinson joined Mike Farwell on Monday morning to discuss this past weekend’s protests against the proposed safe consumption and treatment site in Cambridge.
The interview has been uploaded to 570 News’ website under the episode labelled Monday July 26th, 2021 and begins at 21:27. Listen as they discuss harm reduction, overdose prevention, and some of the history of the opioid crisis.
To learn more about WRCPC’s work in safe supply initiatives, take a look at our overdose prevention page.
Posted on: July 26th, 2021 by Waterloo Region Crime Prevention Council
KITCHENER — A vigil took place in Kitchener’s Victoria Park on Friday night to honour an 18-year-old who died of a drug overdose in February. […]
The Waterloo Region Crime Prevention Council (WRCPC) reports 70 people have died of suspected drug overdoses so far this year, most involving opioids.
On average, three calls a day are made to 911 reporting an overdose.
“We’ve had 21 consecutive years of increasing opioid related overdoses in Ontario,” said Michael Parkinson of the council. “We are seeing direct workers from a variety of agencies, we’re seeing paramedics really burning out because the steady stream of death is unrelenting.”
Read more…
Posted on: July 12th, 2021 by Waterloo Region Crime Prevention Council
WATERLOO REGION — There are people who will wonder why the Canadian government is ready to spend $2.3 million to buy drugs for addicts in Waterloo Region.
There are others who might even disagree with the entire notion of a publicly funded safe drug supply program because they fear it will only make it easier for people to inject something that’s bad for them.
But we must accept the stark reality that, after COVID-19, the opioid epidemic is this region’s biggest health crisis and we’re not doing enough to turn the tide of death and suffering.
The number of local overdose fatalities rose from 62 two years ago to 102 in 2020 so it is imperative… [read more here]
WRCPC — To read our (Un)Safe Report, download Infographics to share, watch the recordings of our webinars, or learn more about the Safe Supply Initiative take a look at our overdose prevention webpage. If you would like updates and events sent to you directly, become a Friend of Crime Prevention.
Posted on: July 6th, 2021 by Waterloo Region Crime Prevention Council
New (Un)Safe Recording Uploaded
(Un)Safe 3.0: Integrating overdose prevention sites, safe supply and wrap-around services in shelter settings (click to watch recording)
Do you work with or on behalf of people who consume unregulated drugs and lack stable housing in Waterloo region? Regularly consume unregulated drugs, or are directly affected by the poisoned marketplace?
The WRCPC and ACCKWA were pleased to welcome colleagues Gab Laurence and Dana Luchsinger from Parkdale Queen West Community Health Centre for their valuable insights gleaned from their integrated efforts to prevent and/or reduce harm to people using unregulated drugs and surviving in shelter and hotel settings throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. It’s no small thing!
Key activities, successes and challenges shared in this presentation and dialogue include: onsite overdose prevention sites in shelter settings via the Urgent Public Health Need Sites (UPHNS) exemption, safe supply services, COVID-19 recovery services, complimentary wrap-around health and social services.
To learn more about Safe Supply, please visit our Overdose Prevention Page
Posted on: June 28th, 2021 by Waterloo Region Crime Prevention Council
Throughout June 2021, the Waterloo Region Crime Prevention Council launched the first 4 webinars of the ongoing Join Us UPstream: A Virtual (Re)Thinking Series. 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. Harm encompasses social, economic, psychological and environmental injury or damage inflicted on individuals, communities and society either intentionally or unintentionally. These webinars discuss UPstream Prevention from various perspectives and include the recordings of the live Q&A portion of each event.
All of the recordings for these events have been uploaded to watch, the links and descriptions for each event can be found on our series webpage.
This series is ongoing and we will be organizing more events soon. If you have any comments, questions, or inquiries about getting involved in future events please email Julie.
Posted on: June 19th, 2021 by Waterloo Region Crime Prevention Council
Today is the International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence.
In February we partnered with the Sexual Assault Support Centre and MT Space to bring Chelsea’s Series to the screen. This event surrounded the play Chelsea’s Story, based on a true story as told by a group of three students who discover the diary of a 15-year-old girl named Chelsea, who is targeted and groomed by a man posing as her boyfriend to be trafficked for sex. This play was written as a tool for audiences to understand and recognize exploitation, what to do if they see it and how to keep themselves and their friends safe.
We had the opportunity to show it to 450 grade 7 and 8 students in 2019 and they were really engaged both with the play and in the after performance talk back. Feedback for the teachers and parents at other shows was also very positive. In 2021 Chelsea’s Story was presented online as part of the week long Chelsea’s Virtual Series alongside various panels, workshops, and a film screening of Honey Bee. The pandemic created a unique opportunity showcasing Chelsea across the world through a virtual reality.
Performances of Chelsea’s Story will be touring to various schools across Ontario, if you’re interested in Chelsea’s Story coming to your school, please contact pam@mtspace.ca.
We all need to do our part in ending Sexual Violence, Sex Trafficking, and Online Sexual Exploitation. For more information about this series, click here.
#KnowTheSigns | #EndHumanTrafficking | #ChelseasStory
Posted on: May 25th, 2021 by Waterloo Region Crime Prevention Council
Join Us UPstream is an ongoing series of events discussing upstream prevention concepts and strategies from various perspectives. We all need to do our part in making social change; these events are open to EVERYONE.
Together, let’s (RE)THINK our community.
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.
Take a look at the UPstream Media Release, feel free to save and share with your networks.
Everyone is invited! Learn more and register now: bit.ly/UPstreamSeries
