By Tyler Marr

Year in Review: Documentary shines poor light on city, community fights back

Dec 28, 2018 | 1:00 PM

Crimetown.

That was the label slapped on the side of North Battleford’s iconic water tower in a CTV News’s W5 documentary that aired in September to overwhelming displeasure for its sensationalist take on the city’s nation-leading place among the crime severity index rankings.

“A small prairie town, the crime capital of Canada,” an advertisement on the documentary said. “Where residents live in fear and criminals run rampant. W5 takes it to the street, as citizens on patrol take matters into their own hands.”

Soon after the program aired, a number of businesses and politicians fired back, decrying aspects or the entire piece.

On Oct. 10, Mayor Ryan Bater took time during a city council meeting to clarify some information referenced in the episode.

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Bater said there are not eight individuals responsible for 38 per cent of all crime in North Battleford. Rather, he said the RCMP report about eight people at any given time account for a high proportional, about 38 per cent of calls for service downtown specifically. 

“The reporter who was interviewing Inspector Sutherland took a comment that he had made, and he has made several times in these chambers, that about eight people … are responsible for a high proportion of calls for service in the downtown core,” Bater said. 

The mayor said the number can fluctuate from six to 12 people, ultimately adding significantly to the RCMP’s tally of calls for service downtown. 

In the days to follow, those travelling along 100 Street noticed an interesting sign in response during their commute.

Plastered on the side of Ultra Print Services is a massive billboard that proclaims “W5 missed the good stuff! Ultra Print loves the Battlefords.”

For Carey Tollefson, one of the owners and managers of Ultra Print Services, the recent W5 documentary labelling the city as Crimetown and portraying it as “the old west,” was a breaking point for him and his fellow business partners.

“I thought, ‘this just isn’t what this city is about at all,’” he told battlefordsNOW. “We thought it was a really good time to promote the fact that we love where we live. We love doing business here and a billboard on 100 Street seemed to be a good place to start.”

He believed a fair commentary would take into account the “great things going on around here,” highlighting the city’s facilities, proximity to lakes and the many successful youth activities.

Like many in the community he has spoken with, Tollefson became frustrated with the continued national coverage of the city’s crime statistics and oversight of the bounty of opportunity the region has to offer. 

While Tollefson admitted crime in the region is an issue that can’t be overlooked, he pointed to the array of initiatives being undertaken to curtail the dilemma. He hopes the billboard can act as a catalyst to spur people to do more.

“I think there are a whole lot of people who feel the way we do. We are very happy living here and we know how good of a place it is to live,” he said. “If this ignites something or this encourages people to talk about the good stuff and do their part then it will be a great thing that we did.”

Closer to the end of October, another project launched to rebuke the piece and take back the Crimetown brand.

Number one in something, but not for long. 

That, alongside #evolvingnb, will soon be plastered on bunny hugs and T-shirts in and around the Battlefords. The community project undertaken by All Out Graphics and Design in North Battleford will direct all profits from sales towards Battlefords Victim Services.

Owner Nicole Hanna said the documentary made it clear it is time for the community to come together and tackle the issues. She believed, like many others, CTV got it wrong and wants to help turn around the region’s reputation.

The slogan ‘number one in something, but not for long,’ is being used as Hanna believes the city is “not going to be the crime capital for the rest of our life,” and hopes to spur people into action. Hanna believes there to be a strong desire for change, and she commended the work already being done by various groups in the city and hopes to encourage more residents to do their part.

She said the clothing line initiative is the launchpad for other community-building initiatives the organization has planned. She hopes to raise funds to organize periodic evening activities, like craft nights, to help bring people together.

“It is just a way to bring the community together and have those nights to bond and get to know each other and show we are a good community and we do stick together,” she said.

tyler.marr@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @JournoMarr