Pubdate: Wed, 29 Dec 2004 Source: Nipawin Journal, The (CN SN) Copyright: 2004 The Nipawin Journal Contact: http://www.nipawinjournal.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/867 Author: James Taylor DRUG USAGE, GANG ACTIVITY FOCUS OF MEETING The presentation was the second in a series of three sponsored by the Nipawin school division to determine if there are drug and or gang activities in the area and how prevalent the problem is. Often described as the offspring of big city poverty and the glamorization of American urban ghettoism, the phenomenon of gangs and gangster activity has permeated its way throughout society and threatens to make its way to northern, rural Saskatchewan. That, in part, was the message at a recent seminar in Nipawin hosted by the Nipawin school division that featured a presentation by the Saskatoon Integrated Intelligence Unit. Despite a frigidly cold night, a large gathering was on hand at L.P. Miller School where they were informed of the various different gangs in Saskatchewan, their methods, characteristics, dress and objectives. The presentation was the second in a series of three sponsored by the Nipawin school division to determine if there are drug and or gang activities in the area and how prevalent the problem is. "It started last spring when we as a school division, working very closely with many community organizations, started seeing signs related to drug use both in and out of school," said Gordon Benton a School Plus Consultant with the local school board. "We also started seeing a few signs of graffiti on some school walls and other buildings, we started seeing some general vandalism around town and we were starting to see signs related to drugs and were wondering if we were starting to see signs of gangs," he added. "It wasn't as if we were noticing horrendous threats to our security as a community," Benton said. "We just wanted to be informed and take pro-active approaches rather than ignoring it and letting ourselves fall into a case where we had a bad situation and had no other choice but to react to solve it." Benton said the school division, in partnership with public service providers such as Social Services, and the RCMP took a four-part approach to examine the issue of drug usage and gang activity in the community. Firstly, the discussions focused on how the community could recognize drug or gang activity, then, what are the different types of drugs and gangs in the area. That was followed by examining how an individual could recognize the same activity in a relative, friend or associate and finally, how should one respond without jeopardizing their own safety or security. "I don't think anybody would think we have a problem, "Benton said. "We just decided to take the approach to address it up front, positively and in a pro-active way rather than ignoring some of these signs and let it evolve where we really have to react in a desperate way." Over 300 people were in attendance at the first presentation in April that dealt strictly with illegal drugs and drug-related issues while another 80 were in attendance for the December 7th discussion about gangs, numbers that Benton said shows the concern in the area. "It shows that the community is wanting to be vigilant. That the community has accepted the fact that if there is something going on here, let's find out so we know what to do about it," he said.Newshawk: Herb Pubdate: Wed, 29 Dec 2004 Source: Nipawin Journal, The (CN SN) Copyright: 2004 The Nipawin Journal Contact: http://www.nipawinjournal.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/867 Author: James Taylor DRUG USAGE, GANG ACTIVITY FOCUS OF MEETING The presentation was the second in a series of three sponsored by the Nipawin school division to determine if there are drug and or gang activities in the area and how prevalent the problem is. Often described as the offspring of big city poverty and the glamorization of American urban ghettoism, the phenomenon of gangs and gangster activity has permeated its way throughout society and threatens to make its way to northern, rural Saskatchewan. That, in part, was the message at a recent seminar in Nipawin hosted by the Nipawin school division that featured a presentation by the Saskatoon Integrated Intelligence Unit. Despite a frigidly cold night, a large gathering was on hand at L.P. Miller School where they were informed of the various different gangs in Saskatchewan, their methods, characteristics, dress and objectives. The presentation was the second in a series of three sponsored by the Nipawin school division to determine if there are drug and or gang activities in the area and how prevalent the problem is. "It started last spring when we as a school division, working very closely with many community organizations, started seeing signs related to drug use both in and out of school," said Gordon Benton a School Plus Consultant with the local school board. "We also started seeing a few signs of graffiti on some school walls and other buildings, we started seeing some general vandalism around town and we were starting to see signs related to drugs and were wondering if we were starting to see signs of gangs," he added. "It wasn't as if we were noticing horrendous threats to our security as a community," Benton said. "We just wanted to be informed and take pro-active approaches rather than ignoring it and letting ourselves fall into a case where we had a bad situation and had no other choice but to react to solve it." Benton said the school division, in partnership with public service providers such as Social Services, and the RCMP took a four-part approach to examine the issue of drug usage and gang activity in the community. Firstly, the discussions focused on how the community could recognize drug or gang activity, then, what are the different types of drugs and gangs in the area. That was followed by examining how an individual could recognize the same activity in a relative, friend or associate and finally, how should one respond without jeopardizing their own safety or security. "I don't think anybody would think we have a problem, "Benton said. "We just decided to take the approach to address it up front, positively and in a pro-active way rather than ignoring some of these signs and let it evolve where we really have to react in a desperate way." Over 300 people were in attendance at the first presentation in April that dealt strictly with illegal drugs and drug-related issues while another 80 were in attendance for the December 7th discussion about gangs, numbers that Benton said shows the concern in the area. "It shows that the community is wanting to be vigilant. That the community has accepted the fact that if there is something going on here, let's find out so we know what to do about it," he said. - --- MAP posted-by: Jo-D