Building Neighbourhood Connections Committee
The Building Neighbourhood Connections Committee is one of the committees that were formed to combat the three Root Causes of Crime singled out in the April 2004 forums. Responsible for such initiatives as the “Say Hi” campaign, this committee is dedicated to improving the relations between homeowners, business owners, and any other groups who interact on a day-to-day basis. They’re taking the extra step towards proving that connected communities are safer communities.
Conversation Cafés
The Building Neighbourhood Connections Committee has been responsible for holding a number of different Conversation Cafés, where anybody can attend a group discussion on issues pertaining to crime and crime prevention in Grande Prairie. The Community Conversation Cafés held prior to this year have been in regard to the closure of Germaine Park, and safety concerns in Downtown Grande Prairie. This year, there have been Neighbourhood Conversation Cafés to discuss issues in the Hillside, Mission Heights, Morgan Meadows & Smith, and South Patterson neighbourhoods, and there are still more to come!
City Ambassadors
Together with the Downtown Association, the Building Neighbourhood Connections Committee initiated a pilot project in 2006 for Downtown Ambassadors. During the summer months, these Ambassadors could be found in Downtown Grande Prairie, talking with would-be patrons of the local businesses on any topic from the city's history to where a person might find a particular commodity. They helped tourists find their way around the city and helped locals find a greater sense of belonging in the community, all the while encouraging everyone to Say Hi to their fellow downtown shoppers and the business owners.
This year, the program has been expanded and our former Downtown Ambassadors are now City Ambassadors! Throughout the summer, these Ambassadors will continue to provide service as in the past, offering information to those who need it and promoting a number of community initiatives. However, with their enhanced role, they will also be visiting community events around the city approximately two days per week, which will help to raise awareness about Crime Prevention and other important programs, and encourage positive community relations. In addition, they will be conducting a Quality of Life survey with residents, businesses, and visitors, in order to determine the public's perspective of life in our city.
Neighbourhood Toolkits
Another of Community Action on Crime Prevention's initiatives is the Neighbourhood Toolkit. Officially launched at the June 16, 2007 Lions Club Spray Park Family BBQ, this program makes Neighbourhood Toolkits available for members of the community to borrow. The Toolkit contains a number of items that can help to make any neighbourhood get-together a great success: outdoor toys and games for the entire family, BBQ paraphenelia, and a how-to guide that can walk you through the planning and executing of your event. A copy of the Neighbourhood Block Party Guide is available for download at the bottom of this page.
Next Meeting: 18 September 2007, 1:30PMMeeting Minutes - 08 Feb 2007Further information related to the Building Neighbourhood Connections Committee: