Keeping people safe & well

 

 

Minutes of the Steering Committee meeting
15th meeting

Date:   Tuesday, August 07, 2007
Place:  South East Ottawa Centre for a Healthy Community (SEOCHC)
    

Present:
1. Sylvie Manser, Banff Ave. Community House Director
2. Sonia Luberti, CPS, City of Ottawa
3. Bonnie Conlon, Councillor Maria McRae’s Office
4. Mike Justinich, Crime Prevention Ottawa
5. Leslie McDiarmid, Manager BBBF and Community Services
6. Kim Seguin, Boys and Girls Club of Ottawa
7. Jason Arbuthnot, Ottawa Police Services
8. Jessica cox, Confederation Court Community House Director
9. Abid Jan, Project Coordinator, NCLB, SEOCHC
10. James Williams (Chair)
11. Chris O’Dell, Boys and Girls Club
12. Linda Walters, President Heatherington Tenants’ Association.
13. Sue Skinner, South Ottawa Community Legal Clinic

Regrets
Superintendent Charles Bordeleau, OPS
Mohamoud Abdulle, Youth Services Bureau
Kevin Shantz, City of Ottawa
Florence Brake, Ottawa Community Housing.
Nick Zeis, City of Ottawa, Parks and Recreation
Victoria Dawson, United Way

Call to Order: Mr. James Williams called the meeting to order at 1:15 p.m.

MINUTES

1. It was moved and seconded

That the minutes of the meeting of the NCLB Steering Committee held on Monday, June 18, 2007, be adopted as circulated.
CARRIED

NEXT COMMITTEE MEETING DATE

2. The next meeting of the Committee will be held on Tuesday, September 18, 2007 at 1:00 p.m. at Banff Avenue Community House, 2084 Banff Avenue.

3. PROGRESS UPDATE
(Oral and presentation)
Abid Jan reported on the following progress since the last meeting:


• Community Surveys had been completed in four communities. Data from Confederation Court would be entered within a week. The results are available at http://www.nocommunityleftbehind.ca/assessment_surveys.php

Action: The gathered information to be used in community forums in the next phase of strategic planning.

• The study confirmed many visible trends, such as the reduction in fear of safety in Banff community where 84% residents were in the “feeling safe” range in 2007, compared to 70% in 2006 and 60% in 2005.

• Youth Survey Forms had been finalized and given to youth workers for initial assessment study. Links to the results of the study will be displayed at this page: http://www.nocommunityleftbehind.ca/youth_prog.htm

• Youth workers were in place in all communities. They were entering schedules of their activities and reports in their respective sections on the website for effective coordination and monitoring of the youth projects.

• Crime Prevention Ottawa and SEOCHC were looking into the possibilities of working with Future Aces to develop youth character building and related positive-ticketing component of NCLB. Some questions and concerns had been sent to Bernice Carnegie (ED Future Aces, Toronto) for clarification ahead of taking future steps.

Action: The committee agreed to provide all possible support to CPO in this regard.

4. PARTNERS’ PROGRESS REPORT

OTTAWA POLICE SERVICE
Cst. Jason Arbuthnot provided the following update:

• Banff community was the quietest of all. Two unwanted individuals were banned and a third was arrested in the community.
• In Heatherington, OPS was working with the OCH to erect “no trespassing” signs to facilitate the OPS in taking measures to make the community safe. Some cost issue might be involved.
  Action: Abid Jan will consult with OCH South District Office and if there is any cost-related problem in erecting ‘no trespass’ signs in all communities, will forward information to the City for assistance.
• In Russell Heights, the presence of gangs had increased. Known drug dealers from other areas were seen in the community. Physically, Russell Heights community was not in good shape, Fences needed to be repaired, parks were full of trash, cable boxes were ripped off, branches of trees had been left in an overgrown state to cover the security lights.
  

  Action: Abid Jan will do follow up on Superintendent Charles Bordeleau’s message to Councillor Peter Humes and invite him to a meeting of the Steering Committee as well as to visit the community so that he could meet residents and listen to the problems they face.

• Situation in Confederation Court community was the saddest of all. However, the good news for the community was that two troublesome households moved out. One of the major problem was that most trouble-makers in the community live there but they were not registered on the lease. It has not been easy for OCH to monitor and do follow up on such cases.
  

BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB:
Chris O’Dell introduced himself and his youth outreach component, which he was implementing in Banff, Confederation Court and Heatherington with his colleague Kevin Schleyer. They contact youth, provide them with information, refer them to relevant programs and conduct information sharing session with parents.

YOUTH COMPONENT OF NCLB:
Jessica Cox, the Youth Program Coordinator, informed the committee that youth workers had been hired and youth projects were underway in four communities. Youth surveys would be completed by the end of August 2007 and progress will be shared with the committee on a regular basis. Moreover, partners could have a look at the “Youth Corner” on the NCLB website to have access to the latest activity schedules and reports.

Action:

• Youth workers to complete on-line schedules and progress reports regularly.
• Youth workers to finalize the Youth Surveys before the end of August 2007.

FUTURE ACES
Bernice Carnegie, Executive Director Future Aces, accepted an invitation to visit Ottawa and make a short presentation on the approach and effectiveness of Future Aces program in Ottawa. This invitation was made in connection with the NCLB’s interest in introducing the positive ticketing program and establishing criteria and procedures for identifying good behavior among youth. Bernice Carnegie explained the concept, philosophy and approach of Future Aces, and practically demonstrated the motivation that drives youth towards behavioral change.

Action: Abid Jan to collect information from Bernice and forward it to CPO.

ADJOURNMENT
Moved and seconded. The meeting adjourned at 3:30pm. Motion carried.

The next meeting of the Committee will be held on Tuesday, September 18, 2007 at 1:00 p.m. at Banff Avenue Community House.

© 2005-15 South - East Ottawa Community Health Centre
Centre de Sante Communautaire du Sud Est D'Ottawa

Contact: Abid Jan Tel./ Tél: (613) 737-5115 Ext. 2403  Fax/Télé: (613) 739-8199

NCLB matters because neighbourhoods matter