Community Outreach
Our community outreach focuses on safety in the community. The staff and volunteers contribute to the following Outreach Events, Programs and Services:
Cops, Kids and Commercial Drive
September 14, 2008
Our signature event – Cops, Kids, and Commercial Drive – took place in Grandview Park on a beautiful, warm, sunny Sunday in September. Over 350 kids & their families attended.
This safety-oriented event enabled families to meet and interact with VPD Police officers and police dogs, and to enjoy hands on access to various police, including GVTAPS, BC Ambulance, and emergency vehicles.
The Vancouver Fire Department’s interactive display and firehouse were a big hit as were the displays and booths by ECOMM (how to call 911) and Child Find, the face painting and dress up stations, and of course, the magician!
The active stations such as the Bike Roadeo, Red Fox, and POPAT (Police Officer Physical Abilities Training) circuit were very popular with kids of all ages, and some adults as well.
CPC Volunteers were an integral part of this event and it would not be the success it was without their dedication and participation.
RestART
RestART is a four-day workshop designed for youth that have been illegally tagging and are willing to become a legitimate mural painter. The workshop is based on the principles of restorative justice, and the focus is on teaching accountability to the youth for the harm that their graffiti has caused businesses.
RestART workshops bring together a diverse group of participants such as: young graffiti writers service providers – restorative justice practitioners, addiction counsellors, youth workers, police officers; legal graffiti artists, who function as mentors; victims – Translink and the Merchants Association; and the community volunteers. Each session has 22-27 participants, including several volunteers from the community.
The group explores the topic of graffiti and identifies the impacts of this behaviour on young people, victims, and the broader community. We also discuss legal opportunities for aerosol painting and work together to design and produce a mural on the last day of the workshop. After the youth have completed the training they can be hired to do murals throughout the city.
Education & Community Forums
Public forums are arranged in response to local area residents’ concerns, usually revolving around specific incidents or issues. We arrange for the NPO or staff members to give initial presentations and then answer questions raised by the public. Other forums may be by invitation only such as a group of residents concerned about drug dealing in their neighbourhood.
Examples of Education Sessions:
Some examples of past events that the GWCPC participated in are:
Our community outreach focuses on safety in the community. The staff and volunteers contribute to the following Outreach Events, Programs and Services:
Cops, Kids and Commercial Drive
September 14, 2008
Our signature event – Cops, Kids, and Commercial Drive – took place in Grandview Park on a beautiful, warm, sunny Sunday in September. Over 350 kids & their families attended.
This safety-oriented event enabled families to meet and interact with VPD Police officers and police dogs, and to enjoy hands on access to various police, including GVTAPS, BC Ambulance, and emergency vehicles.
The Vancouver Fire Department’s interactive display and firehouse were a big hit as were the displays and booths by ECOMM (how to call 911) and Child Find, the face painting and dress up stations, and of course, the magician!
The active stations such as the Bike Roadeo, Red Fox, and POPAT (Police Officer Physical Abilities Training) circuit were very popular with kids of all ages, and some adults as well.
CPC Volunteers were an integral part of this event and it would not be the success it was without their dedication and participation.
RestART
RestART is a four-day workshop designed for youth that have been illegally tagging and are willing to become a legitimate mural painter. The workshop is based on the principles of restorative justice, and the focus is on teaching accountability to the youth for the harm that their graffiti has caused businesses.
RestART workshops bring together a diverse group of participants such as: young graffiti writers service providers – restorative justice practitioners, addiction counsellors, youth workers, police officers; legal graffiti artists, who function as mentors; victims – Translink and the Merchants Association; and the community volunteers. Each session has 22-27 participants, including several volunteers from the community.
The group explores the topic of graffiti and identifies the impacts of this behaviour on young people, victims, and the broader community. We also discuss legal opportunities for aerosol painting and work together to design and produce a mural on the last day of the workshop. After the youth have completed the training they can be hired to do murals throughout the city.
Education & Community Forums
Public forums are arranged in response to local area residents’ concerns, usually revolving around specific incidents or issues. We arrange for the NPO or staff members to give initial presentations and then answer questions raised by the public. Other forums may be by invitation only such as a group of residents concerned about drug dealing in their neighbourhood.
Examples of Education Sessions:
- Counterfeit money recognition
- For pre-schoolers: Stranger Danger, How to call the Police, etc.
- Safety Sessions for Kids: 1-hr sessions at schools, Family Place, etc.
- Security talks and safety audits
- Skytrain & Translink Police Initiatives
- Visits to local stratas, apartments, and co-ops.
- Security information sessions delivered in social housing complexes.
- For local agencies to enhance relationships with their staff and clients: e.g. GW Mental Health Team, North Health Office and BC Housing.
- Education sessions offered to ESL classes and seniors.
- CPTED audits (“Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design”) by improving landscaping, lighting and sight lines.
Some examples of past events that the GWCPC participated in are:
- Cops and Kids
- Child Find
- VPD Soccer Tournament
- Children’s Festival
- School events
- Movie Nights in the Park
- Project Swoop
- Keep Vancouver Spectacular
- Seniors Tea
- Police Fun Day
- VPD drug dog demonstrations
- Commercial Drive Car-Free Day
- Stone Soup Festival
- Britannia Give Back to the Community.
