The provincial media spotlight was on North Battleford again this week, but for a change it was to report some good news. And, since it was something positive the community was being recognized for the media frenzy was much more subdued than when little gems like Statistic Canada’s Crime Severity Index lands on their radar.
True, it’s hard to get much mileage out of “good” news in today’s news cycle, but I think the City of North Battleford deserves enthusiastic praise for the work that has been done to address safety in the community.
The fact that a pilot project introducing Community Safety Officers is now being used to expand the program across the province is a testament to the creativity and determination of those at City Hall who have jumped in with both feet to address the community’s problems.
So, if 15 minutes of fame is all the provincial media thinks that monumental achievement is worth, it just shows where their priorities lie.
It’s a little more than ironic that the very story line that has the video cameras and tape recordings whirling — crime in the Battlefords — doesn’t warrant more in depth reporting.
After gleefully portraying North Battleford as a community under siege, making sweeping statements about one in three youth having been in trouble with the law and further using the statistics to paint a nasty picture of the community, they treated the announcement in Regina as just another CME — contrived media event.
It was that, but it was also much more. It was a celebration of an idea that has helped this community to make better use of policing resources by taking RCMP officers away from traffic and bylaw enforcement and some Alcohol Act enforcement to attend to more serious matters. The Community Safety Officers are also visible in the community, acting as a deterrent to criminal behaviour.
So, a tip of our hats to all involved. Stay tuned for more good news from the Battlefords, but you might have to tune in to local media to get the rest of the story.
