As we approach Remembrance Day on Sunday, it is a time to slow down enough to reflect on those who stood up to serve for what they believe, and those who are standing up and serving now. I am very thankful to those who risked and gave their lives so can enjoy the freedoms that we all have as Canadians.
Every time I’m in city hall, I see the photos of our community members currently serving overseas, and I’m reminded of the need to ensure we honour and remember them, and all those who have served Canada in uniform. We will never forget.
It was a very well-attended meeting last week to discuss solutions to the problem of safety in Boitanio Park. The park is a symbol for our community — a beautiful place, a place where we come together to celebrate — the Children’s Festival, concerts, biking events — but just like the community as a whole, if you scratch the surface, you see the unhealthy side — addictions, crime, and violence. In the city’s citizen survey last year identified crime and safety, and specifically safety in Boitanio Park, as the top concern.
It was great to see a number of key partners come together at the meeting, because we need to clearly identify the issues behind the problem before it can be addressed. This is not about pointing fingers or blaming people; it’s about addressing behaviours.
Also, last week, Inspector Brown and I were part of a conference call with a number of other communities at the top of the Crime Severity Index list. We discussed the approaches we take to reduce crime, and we are all interested in another meeting.
The City is continuing to work to reduce crime — we do not want to be in the top 5 on the CSI list any longer. Boitanio Park is one step in addressing this issue. This is not just an RCMP problem; this is a community issue.
Kerry Cook is the mayor of Williams Lake.