News Release
Mayor's Roundtable on Violence Discussions Get Underway
(Wednesday, November 14/07) - The final sessions of the Mayor's Roundtable on Violence will get underway tomorrow morning at HRM Council Chambers. The Roundtable, which runs November 15-17, will be aired in its entirety live on Eastlink Television.
"Violence and perceptions of violence in our communities are critical concerns for HRM residents," said Mayor Peter Kelly. "We've worked extremely hard over the past year to engage key people in this Roundtable process, from residents, community groups, academics and the media, to police, RCMP and the criminal justice system. I am looking forward to the discussions this week and ahead to the final report."
The Roundtable sessions are a culmination of the extensive research and consultation that has been ongoing for the past year on violence in HRM. Community stakeholders will report to Mayor Kelly, the Mayor's Advisory Committee and Roundtable facilitator Professor Don Clairmont on specific areas of interest, including summaries of the Community Roundtables held recently throughout HRM and themed focus groups held in June and July; results of the comprehensive phone and mail-in surveys conducted from June to September; and presentations on such topics as community engagement, youth, the criminal justice system and strategies for change. (See attached agenda below.)
A detailed report will be delivered this winter outlining a workable long-term strategy with specific recommendations for community stakeholders such as municipal, provincial and federal governments, as well as police, school boards, parents and neighbours.
"I would like to extend my sincere appreciation to each and every person who shared their concerns, opinions, time and expertise-you have played an invaluable part in this Roundtable," said Mayor Kelly. "Together we can make a difference, and I will work diligently and passionately to ensure that our efforts result in action that will make a difference."
What: Mayor's Roundtable on Violence
Where: HRM Council Chambers
1841 Argyle Street
When: Thursday, November 15, 8:30 am - 5:30 pm
Friday, November 16, 8:30 am - 5 pm
Saturday, November 17, 9 am - 12 noon
-30-
Mayor Peter Kelly
490-4010
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Mayor's Roundtable on Violence
November 15, 16 and 17 - Tentative Schedule
Thursday, November 15, 2007
8:30 a.m. Mayor Peter Kelly, Opening Remarks
8:45 a.m. Professor Don Clairmont, "Overview of the Roundtable Initiative"
9:15 a.m. Marnie Wallace, CCJS, "Geocoding Halifax"
9:45 a.m. HRM Survey Results, Telephone and Mail
10:15 a.m. Break
10:30 a.m. Focus Group Reports
• Community/City Initiatives and Organized Crime, Kerry Chambers
• Downtown Bar Scene, Prof. Chris Murphy
• Neighbourhood Engagement and Public Safety, Stephen Schneider
• Public Safety and Security Issues in Minority Communities, Laughlin Rutt
• Social Construction and Public Safety, Stephen Kimber
• Street Crime, Violence and Public Safety, Owen Carrigan
• Troubled Youth, Kit Waters
12:15 p.m. Lunch
1:15 p.m. Focus Groups Continued
Community Engagement Initiatives
2:15 p.m. Community Roundtable Report
• Representative, North West Community Council
• Representative, Peninsula Community Council
• Representative, Chebucto Community Council
• Representative, Western Region Community Council
• Representative, Marine Drive and Valley Community Council
• Representative, Harbour East Community Council
3:15 p.m. Break
3:30 p.m. Catherine Woodman, Executive Director, United Way "The United Way of Halifax, Lessons and Strategies"
4:00 p.m. Elaine Williams, "The Mulgrave Park Experience"
4:30 p.m. Bernie Smith, Spring Garden Road Business Commission "Lessons from Spring Garden Road"
5:00 p.m. Rustunm Southwell, Black Business Initiative "Lessons from the Black Business Initiative"
Friday, November 16, 2007
A Focus on Youth
8:30 a.m. Pat Gorham, "Nova Scotia Restorative Justice"
9:00 a.m. Robert Wright, "Dimensions of a Youth Justice Strategy"
9:30 a.m. Stephen Schneider, SMU Professor, "Mentoring"
10:00 a.m. James Hartley, "Working with Troubled Youth"
10:30 a.m. Break
Strategies for Change
10:45 a.m. Valerie Pottie-Bunge, Department of Justice, "Future Directions, The NS Strategic Plan"
11:15 a.m. Frank Palermo, Dalhousie University, "City Planning, Design and Public Safety"
11:45 a.m. Jack Novack, Henson College, "The Municipal Government and Public Safety Initiatives"
12:15 p.m. Lunch
Views from the Criminal Justice System
1:15 p.m. Chief Frank Beazley, HRPS, "Anti-Violence Strategies"
1:45 p.m. Supt. Gordon Barnett, RCMP, "Public Safety Strategies"
2:15 p.m. Frank Hoskins, Crown Attorney's Office, "Realities and Strategies: A Prosecutor's View"
2:45 p.m. Fred Honsberger, Department of Justice, "Thoughts on Improving the Criminal Justice System - Response to Repeat Offenders"
3:15 p.m. Break
3:30 p.m. Ben Bishop, "Public Safety and Effective Reintegration of Offenders"
3:45 p.m. John J. Robinson, Victim Services, "Issues from the Victims' Perspective"
Saturday, November 17, 2007
Targeting Change
9:00 a.m. The Honourable Cecil Clarke, Minister of Justice, Province of Nova Scotia
9:30 a.m. Tom Payette, Addiction, Prevention and Treatment Services, "Effectively Addressing the Culture of Alcohol and Drug-Related Violence"
10:00 a.m. Chief Justice J. Kennedy, "The Justice of Sentencing"
10:30 a.m. Owen Carrigan, "What the Criminal Justice System Can Do?"
11:00 a.m. Halifax University Alliance, "Public Safety and University/College Students"
11:30 a.m. Dr. John LeBlanc, IWK Pediatrics, "A Positive Approach to Violence and Bullying"
12 p.m. Mayor Peter J. Kelly, Closing Remarks
