Pick Up the Peace

This is the week (April 27-May 1) designated by the Town of Peace River when residents who want to help clean up the town are encouraged to get out and pick up garbage that has accumulated over the winter. The Town and Tim Horton's are the sponsors of the event--thank you!

I'm a little late on this, but I'm going out tonight to pick up garbage (meet at the East side of the Mall at 6:45 if you want to join me) and decided I should also advertise the event.

Here's the information from Community Services:

At your convenience, drop by one of the three dispatch points between noon and 8:00 PM (Tim Horton's, the pool, and the Rec Centre). There you will be provided garbage bags, gloves and a participant T Shirt. Choose an area you think needs a bit of cleaning, pick garbage to your heart’s content, then return the filled garbage bag to the dispatch point. Filled bags can be left near the on-site dumpster for pick up by Town staff the following morning.

A thank you wind up Barbeque for all the volunteers will be held at the Public Works yard (off River Road just north of the bridge) on May 9 from 11-3 PM. This BBQ is also intended to raise awareness about E-Waste Recycling.

Peace River Library: Visit on Thursday nights

The Peace River Municipal Library has been open on Thursday nights until 8:00 for awhile now, but since use isn't very good, I thought I'd remind people. If attendance doesn't improve, the Library Manager will need to make a decision whether or not to continue, so if you like having evening hours, take advantage of Thursdays!

Community Safety Forum: April 8, 2009

Peace River and region residents should plan to attend the Community Safety Forum on Wednesday (April 8), 6:30 PM at the Belle Petroleum Centre. The forum is co-hosted by the Town of Peace River, Northern Sunrise County and Peace Regional RCMP.

This Peace River Record-Gazette article outlines the program for the event. It's an ambitious agenda (maybe over-ambitious for 3 hours) that we hope will help to kick-start greater community and regional collaboration on the issue of reducing crime.

The keynote speaker is Bill Pitt, a criminologist affiliated with the University of Alberta and MacEwan College who will speak to crime trends in this area and the Alberta context. There will also be an opportunity for those in attendance to discuss ideas for reducing crime in our area.

I tend to look at the big picture and want to know what is at the root of problems, which is where I think we need to put effort. So I'll be listening to hear whether Professor Pitt talks about this at all or whether he is more focused on the enforcement level (important, but only a small part of the issue).

Creating or maintaining safe communities is everyone's concern--crime affects each of us directly or indirectly. The more informed and willing to work together for solutions that we are, the more likely it is we can make a difference. Please plan to attend and bring another person or two with you.