Community Safety

Community Safety

Over the past few months, vandalism, theft and shootings have understandably put safety on the minds of many people in Fort St. John. I believe we need to take these concerns seriously while also recognizing that keeping our community safe is a shared responsibility.
The City and RCMP are working together, and specialized resources are being used to address drugs, gangs and other serious crime. I believe we also need to continually ask: Are these measures working, and what more can we do?
For me, that means listening to residents, businesses and community groups, monitoring crime trends, and maintaining open conversations with the RCMP and our community partners. It also means prevention—continue to add better lighting and surveillance where appropriate, safer public spaces, and educating residents to recognize and report suspicious activity and protect their homes and businesses. We also have local organizations already doing important work with people involved in the justice system. Programs such as Community Youth Justice Services and many others provide restorative justice, employment supports, addictions counselling, mentorship, and culturally grounded services that give people opportunities to take responsibility, develop skills, and get back on a productive path. I believe the City should continue building relationships with and supporting the organizations doing this work in our community.
And as I mentioned in my last post, our youth are part of this conversation too. Giving young people opportunities to connect, learn, develop skills and find purpose won’t solve crime on its own, but it can be an important piece of prevention.
Enforcement is important. Prevention is important. Rehabilitation has a place. Community involvement is essential.