ROUND TABLE ON YOUTH AND CRIME PREVENTION

Meeting held September 11, 2001,
starting at 7:00 p.m. in the Fire Hall # 6, Langley

M I N U T E S

PRESENT:Mel Kositsky, Councillor; Bob Long, Councillor; Jim Smith, Langley Youth & Family Services - Facilitator; Constable Doug Spek, RCMP School Liaison Officer; Sharlene Brunjes, RCMP Victim/Witness Services; Rod Ross, School Trustee - School District 35; Dyane Burnell, School District 35; Gene MacDonald, Ministry of Children & Families; Darlene Jamison, Ministry of Children & Families; Jack Stetz, Langley Arts Counci;l Linda Brummit, Langley Family Services; Mike Baker, School District 35; Ross Stephanson, Walnut Grove Secondary School; Roxanne Smith, Aldergrove Community Police Office; Stan Duckworth, Aldergrove Neighbourhood Services Society; Todd Krohman, Langley Youth Task Force; Bev Herman, Township of Langley Parks & Recreation; Kurt Houlden, Township of Langley Parks & Recreation Director; Wendy Erdmann, Teens Advocating Growth; Alberto De Feo, Township of Langley Clerk

Note: About 20 young men and women from different schools and representing different youth groups were in attendance as well.

WELCOME AND INTRODUCTIONS - Alberto De Feo, Township Clerk, welcomed all those in attendance and provided a brief overview of the agenda for the night.Ê He also introduced Jim Smith, Langley Youth & Family Service, who would act as the facilitator for the round table.

OPENING REMARKS J. Smith Jim Smith, Langley Youth & Family Services, thanked all those in attendance and acknowledged the tragic terrorist events of today in New York and Washington.Ê He then provided an overview of the scope of the round table and requested Councillor Bob Long to describe the resolution of Langley Township Council that originated the gathering.

COUNCIL RESOLUTION B. Long Councillor Long briefly touched upon the resolution approved by Township Council relative to the meeting of the round table and offered some comments about the scope and role of the round table. A copy of the resolution was distributed to all in attendance for clarity of discussion. The resolution approved by Council reads as follows:

WHEREAS Council recently received a delegation from Mr. Todd Krohman, speaking to the ongoing need to assess and address the issues of youth violence, delinquency and insecurity in communities within the Township of Langley;

AND FURTHER, according to research conducted by the National Crime Prevention Committee, prevention, acting early on risk factors, is much more effective than traditional methods of crime control;

BE IT SO RESOLVED that Council instruct Staff to arrange a round table discussion of stakeholders including police, schools, social services etc. to work towards a 'Community Safety Strategy' for the Township of Langley - to work together to analyze the extent and causes of youth problems in a way that leads to the implementation of a plan to reduce delinquency, violence and insecurity;

This round table discussion should be facilitated by an expert in the field of crime prevention.

INTRODUCTIONS Around the Table Introduction All in attendance introduced themselves by saying their names and the organization they were representing.

PRESENTATIONS Video 'Bad Kids' The video "Bad Kids" produced by the National Crime Prevention Centre was shown. Comments on the video were provided by a number of youth and members of the round table.

SERVICE PROVIDERS AND AGENCIES Attendees Each attendee provided a brief description of the services they provided or the purpose of their organization. This led into the discussion around the needs to address the resolution of Council.

DISCUSSION AND ACTIONS REQUIRED

Council Actions It was felt that all individuals and agencies around the table would provide valuable input for the drafting of a Community Safety Strategy that would address, among all concerns, those youth problems that originated CouncilÕs action.

Based on the observations made by all participants it is suggested that the following action be proposed to Council:

THAT the Round Table continue to meet to finalize a strategy for Council to consider in order to address the issue of Community Safety and Youth related problems; THAT, as part of the strategy, the Round Table consider including ideas for a One-Stop Shop concept for youth problems in order to address those in a more efficient way; and finally

THAT The business community be invited to participate to the Round Table as well.

TERMINATE The meeting terminated at 9:30 p.m.