By Angela Brown

Chamber introduces crime reduction program

May 22, 2018 | 12:00 PM

The Battlefords Chamber of Commerce has rolled out a new plan called “Action Battlefords” to help reduce crime and improve the community’s reputation.

The project was discussed at the chamber’s recent meeting. The ultimate aim of the campaign is to boost local business and make the community a safer place in which to live.

The plan is “to give a more positive view of North Battleford,” chamber president Terry Caldwell told battlefordsNOW, Tuesday. “Over the last years because of our Crime Severity Index it seems that we gave ourselves the reputation for not being as great a place to live as we know it to be. So we want to make sure everybody knows how great a place it really is.” 

“To do that we need to make it better, especially the crime statistic. We’ll need to address that so people will feel more confident we’re actually doing something about it.” 

Caldwell and the chamber committee working on the project have developed a three-pronged plan involving beefing up the Citizens On Patrol numbers, getting more youth involved in recreational activities, and developing a marketing and communications plan.

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The marketing campaign would present the community in a better light and improve its reputation by “telling a different story.”

To help implement some of these strategies, the chamber is asking businesses and community members to get involved and make a contribution to support the campaign.

“Every dollar will make a difference in the lives of our youth and in the future of the community,” Caldwell said in his letter to chamber members.  

Caldwell pointed out crime and the community’s reputation are having a negative impact on the business community in particular. Businesses are facing challenges recruiting employees. He also pointed to the impact of crime on businesses directly. Caldwell added several business sectors are experiencing a drop in business, such as retail, auto, restaurant, consumer goods and grocery stores, as residents leave to shop in other communities.

Action Battlefords has a Facebook page where people can find out more about the campaign and learn how they can get involved.

angela.brown@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @battlefordsNOW