SAGE hopes new committee can help with reconciliation

According to Sutton, this is the first time the MTSF model is being used in an urban setting and defined it as a group of citizens dedicated to building a safer community.

Sutton said part of the program involves strengthening the relationship with Indigenous groups within the community to build stronger ties and work towards reconciliation.

According to Sutton the goal of the committee is to build processes and tools which would include creating a “terms of reference” agreed upon by each government group to follow. This would in turn create a better relationship between those four government bodies as well as the people in the community.

“I really think this regional steering committee has the potential to be a game changer in our community,” Sutton said. “I think our community is at a crossroads. I think we are in a good position to start having those conversations…it’s going to be difficult work. There are some hard discussions that have to occur but I think we are in a good position to do that.”

Sutton said one of the steps is to build awareness of the realities of the history of reconciliation and have respectful discussions. The safety coordinator admitted he was no expert on the topic but believes it is part of what the federal government is asking for.

“It’s basically recognition that the part of history that we thought was accurate in the past came from a particular viewpoint,” Sutton said. “There are other viewpoints so we need to have those conversations so we can begin to rebuild those relationships back to what it had been at one time, which was very positive.”

The creation of the steering committee is just the beginning of phase two for SAGE. The group recently wrapped up on the first phase which focused on community engagement.

Sutton admitted the group had some difficulty attracting people from different demographics within the community. SAGE looked into different ways to engage the community like holding various barbecues in different parts of the city.

Sutton said he couldn’t be prouder of the over 25 people from 23 different organizations which make up the SAGE team.

“It’s a big, big commitment and they are all doing this off the side of their desk,” Sutton said. “The last thing I’ll say is we’ve had incredible support from the city. I am very excited about the potential for this.”

Sutton said if all goes to plan the SAGE group will have created a closer community which will in turn reduce crime and get North Battleford off the top of the crime severity index by around 2020.

ghiggins@jpbg.ca

On Twitter @realgreghiggins.

by Greg Higgins

SAGE hopes new committee can help with reconciliation

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