A group of volunteers is stepping forward in Buffalo Narrows to deal with concerns about drug dealing, vandalism and other crimes in the community.
This large movement started with a single Facebook posting about vandalism to a complex housing the rink, gymnasium and other recreational facilities.
Tuesday night, a large meeting was held at the Lakeview Complex to allow concerned citizens to discuss what they see as out-of-control criminal activity.
About 110 people attended the meeting at the facility which has smashed windows and boarded up doors at the front entrance, along with gang graffiti sprayed nearby.
This was a follow-up to another meeting held on August 24.
The same complaints were brought forward by a number of people: drug dealers taking up shop in housing units, thefts related to drug use, vandalism, gang activity, police response times or lack of police response and the leniency of the justice system.
RCMP Staff Sergeant Ted Munro, the North District N.C.O. was at the meeting and says progress in battling criminal activity will take time.
“Everybody’s going to have a different measurement. From the policing side we can look at what we can manage and what we can actually do. So when I talk about change, you have to look at six months measured,” Munro said.
Some mentioned they did not feel safe reporting crime, fearing retribution.
Buffalo Narrows Mayor Estelle Laliberte says the community faces many challenges, but she is confident people will work together.
“They are just taking down the names here, they hopefully get representation from every agency, every service provider in the community right down to schools, the friendship centre, the Metis local, social services, Kids First, the town, recreation,” Laliberte said.
Some of the solutions brought forward at the meeting include a neighbourhood watch program, a curfew for youth, and utilizing the RCMP Drug Abuse Resistance Awareness Program in schools.
A committee of volunteers will now organize working groups made up of individuals and various social agency representatives.
It will be their task to identify the problem areas and decide which programs are best suited for the community.