News Release
Residents Urged to Mobilize and Join in Commons Watch
(Tuesday, October 2, 2007) Councillor Dawn Sloane and local resident Dr. John Gillis will hold a public meeting tomorrow evening (Wednesday, October 3rd) to discuss organizing a citizen patrol for the Halifax Commons.
The meeting will be held at 7:00 p.m. in the Royal Bank Theatre, Halifax Infirmary, 1796 Summer Street.
Councillor Sloane said “Mobilizing the community in this matter will have many positive affects on our citizens and protect our green spaces. By mobilizing, neighbours, will be helping neighbours in the fight against crime in a non-confrontational matter. Also, it will allow the neighbourhood to find a home-based solution to crime on the Commons; plus, it’s a great opportunity to meet your neighbours.”
“It’s time to put something made in Halifax in place to start to fix our issues with Commons safety. We need people who live here to join us on Wednesday and take part,” stated Dr. John Gillis, a resident of North Park Street, who wants to develop a plan to use trained citizens to patrol the Commons.
Halifax Regional Police representatives will be in attendance to answer questions about the two successful community initiatives from which the Commons Watch originates: Citizens on Patrol and Neighbourhood Watch.
"We have seen great success with our community-based programs and look forward to partnering with citizens around the Commons to help ensure community safety," said Chief Frank A. Beazley. “This will only serve to enhance the special checks and directed patrols that uniformed and plain clothes officers are currently conducting in the area."
“Concerned residents who take an active interest in their neighbourhoods can have a huge impact on community safety,” said Mayor Peter Kelly. “I applaud the Commons Watch group’s efforts to improve safety in the Commons and look forward to seeing them work with Halifax Regional Police to incorporate and build upon tried and true programs that have been successful in many other neighbourhoods.”
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Councillor Dawn Sloane
488-4812
John M. Gillis, BSc., M.D., C.C.F.P.(EM)
488-5445
