Youth in attendance at the Youth Leadership and Project Development Workshop.
Members of the RCMP and youth from across the country teamed up for the third time to tackle issues related to youth crime and victimization during the Youth Leadership and Project Development Workshop. The workshop took place in November 13 to 18 at the RCMP Academy, “Depot” Division, in Regina, Saskatchewan.
Attending from Thompson, Manitoba were S/Cst. Kyle Boisvert and youth Evan Lutz. They attended the workshop with the goal of finding a solution to drug and alcohol abuse which the team identified as an issue that is currently affecting youth in the community.
“I want to address this issue because drug and alcohol use and abuse is a major issue in Thompson, and I want to stop it,” says Lutz.
Workshop participants discussed the root causes of issues such as youth drug abuse and bullying, and the impacts these behaviours have on individuals, schools and communities.
“I commend the RCMP on providing youth with this important learning opportunity,” said Public Safety Minister, Vic Toews. “Through this workshop, youth are gaining skills and knowledge they can use to become active partners in helping keep Canadian communities safe.”
The teams identified existing resources in their schools/communities that can help address youth crime and victimization issues, and shared their perspective on the role of police officers in effective prevention measures.
“The RCMP has a role to play in crime prevention and education,” said Insp. Mike LeSage, the officer in charge of the RCMP’s National Aboriginal Policing and Crime Prevention Services. “To tackle crime we have to look at the root causes of it. Working together with young people from our communities during this workshop is a great way to accomplish this and demonstrates the RCMP’s commitment to youth as a priority for our organization.”
Youths who attended the workshop were selected by RCMP Commanding Officers of various provinces and territories. As Aboriginal communities are also a priority for the RCMP, a focus was placed on having two youths from each of the territories attend the workshop.
