New North CEO Matt Heley at an October gathering. MBC file photo.
New North is hosting a two-day training event for community police boards in Prince Albert this week.
In 2009, the Framework Agreement for Community Safety and Policing Initiative was signed and a part of the agreement provided for the creation of Community Police Boards.
There are at least eight active boards in the north right now on the municipal side, and more than 30 active on reserve which go by the name Community Consultative Groups.
The conference started Tuesday morning, with a focus on strengthening the bond between the RCMP and Aboriginal and northern communities.
Matt Heley is the CEO of New North, the advocate group for northern municipalities, and said it is important for police boards and the RCMP get together to talk about successes and challenges.
He said one of the biggest hurdles to overcome is the selection of RCMP candidates to work in northern communities and First Nations.
“Finding people who are well-suited to work in some of these communities and the challenges they face will be an outstanding issue, and it probably always will be,” he said.
However, he said things have improved in the relationship of northern communities and reserves with the RCMP. Heley said the RCMP have become more conscious of the importance of community policing and the importance of being responsive to community needs.
The RCMP, northern community policing groups, justice workers, and Aboriginal policing workers are at the conference to participate in discussions on policing and local criminal justice issues.
Heley said community groups are looking for more information from the RCMP on potential issues they might be dealing with, such as the introduction of different illegal drugs to a community or how a warrant is issued.
He said networking plays a big part of the conference where committee members from different communities can interact and discuss what has worked for them.
“These police boards are locally driven by volunteers who are champions for their communities and it’s a good opportunity to bring them together with the RCMP to champion their successes and challenges,” he said.
The conference takes place at the Prince Albert Travelodge.