Teen Safety in Our Neighborhood 2007-8

Article in the Vancouver Sun April  14, 2008

Three teens injured in 'vicious attack' 

by Darah Hansen,

Three teenagers are in hospital following a "vicious" attack late Saturday night.

One young man suffered a severe blow to the head, another a shattered kneecap, while the third, a 14-year-old girl, sustained broken ribs.

"It was a vicious assault and absolutely unprovoked," said White Rock RCMP Const. Janelle Canning, adding that alcohol was a factor in the assault, which occurred around 11:30 p.m. "Witnesses have told us he [the suspect] was so drunk he could barely stand," she said. Police are now looking for a man in his late teens or early twenties who attacked the group.

She said ...


March 2008 , one evening, around 11 pm, several local teens were at a bus stop around 31st and Mckenzie. They were attacked by a group of  teen boys. One of the teen boys waiting at the bus stop was beaten and suffered a fractured skull and wrist. A neighbour heard noise and called 911. The beaten teen is expected to recover. This information provided to Kits PAC by a Kits parent who knows the identity of the beaten teen.

From a Vancouver Sun article Nov. 1, 2007 titled 'Bus driver swarmed and beaten by trick-or-treaters' by Gerry Bellett

"Chow said police officers were busy all over the city dealing with assaults and robberies by gangs of youths.

"They were taking advantage of the fact that they can disappear into the crowds who are always out on the street during Halloween," he said.

Some of the incidents were:

- Alma Park. Two men were approached by a group of teens intent on stealing their belongings.  The victims were pepper-sprayed.  One managed to run away while the other was assaulted and suffered serious injuries.  Two 16-year-old youths were arrested.

- Fourth and Wallace.  Three males - one carrying a baseball bat - took fireworks and candy from a 17-year-old youth.

- Vine and 36th.  A white BMW containing five people pulled alongside a 16-year-old youth.  They jumped out and threw the victim to the ground and stole his iPod.  

- Tisdall and 48th.  A 16-year-old youth waking in a nearby park was struck with a blunt instrument and was taken to hospital with serious injuries.

- 5300-block West Boulevard.  A 17-year-old youth was swarmed, punched and kicked.  The assault was seen by a police officer.  Five persons were arrested, three aged 18 and two 17-year-olds.  The victim was hospitalized with undisclosed injuries. "



Teen Safety in Our Neighborhood 2005-6

Worried about personal safety?

Home security?

Come to our Safer Communities Presentation (Shaughnessy Home Owners' Association)

Presentation and Q&A session hosted by

Constable Ian Carter

Kerrisdale, Marpole, Oakridge Community Policing Centre

3:00 - 4:30

Saturday, November 19, 2005

Kerrisdale Community Centre

5851 West Boulevard

Room 5 (lower level)

2004-5


Safeteen presents Navigating Adolescence, a workshop for parents in helping their teen deal with violence. This evening will provide you with practical tools to teach your child appropriate responses to verbal and physical threats. You will learn skills which empower youth in their everyday interactions.

Navigating Adolescence - Workshop for Parents on Youth and Violence
As parents and educators we may feel afraid - and at times powerless as our children move out from under our protective wing and begin to navigate the dangerous terrain of adolescence. Sex, drugs, violence, bullying, drinking and driving - there are so many perils. We can see our teenagers careening down the road of life, wind in their faces, big grins, eyes closed. Our media and TV-culture fed youth are perched in precarious denial armed with the "Immortality Syndrome" (That could never happen to me!).

It is clearly not enough to tell our teens over and over, that violence is not acceptable, and to advise them to report it, to just walk away (the two things that teens tell us they won't do!) It is clearly not enough to say, don't do drugs, abstain from sex / use condoms. We need to be able to teach our children how to negotiate these potentially life altering moments. How to say, no and stay cool. How to walk away without giving up power. How to access the part of themselves that can make wise choices - even in the face of peer pressure.

The focus of this training for parents and professionals, will be the acquisition of concrete skills - skills to pass on to the teens you live and work with. Skills which empower our youth to cope with the verbal and physical threats that they are exposed to every single day.

Kits PAC presents this workshop for parents in association with Kits Neighbourhood House, Family Services of Greater Vancouver and West 2 - Community School Team. All parents are welcome and there is no cost. Coffee and cookies.



Kits Drama Studio
Tues. Feb. 1, 2005
7 - 9 pm

http://www.safeteen.ca

The Safeteen program is  provided to Kits grade 10 students.

NOTE: An adapted Safeteen program is also provided to grade 7 students at some schools, private sessions can also be arranged and there is a Safeteen book available at bookstores.


2003-4

A group of parents have been meeting to explore the problem of teen safety in our neighborhood. There have been several reports of Kits students and recent Kits graduates being attacked in our neighborhood (not at school, not during school hours).

Kitsilano PAC sponsored a panel concerning 'Teen Safety in the Community' on October 19th, 2004.  The panel was brought together to establish an awareness of threats to older teen safety, and strategies and community resources to promote greater teen safety. The panel included: Constable Aaron Cramer, liason officer for Kits and Byng; former and current grade 12 Kits students; Lisa Pedrini, School Safety Coordinator with the VSB; Principal Mary Daniel, and school counsellor Carrie Pitman.
 
The panelists had important information about the safety of teens in our community, particularly around the time of Halloween:
Aaron Cramer presented an update about community incidents.  He presented statistics showing an increase in the number of violent/threatening incidents surrounding Halloween (almost always involving drugs and/or alcohol).
Two former Kits students told of an unprovoked incident that happened to them in the early evening last Halloween where they were randomly attacked in their car.  They were threatened, sprayed with 'bear spray', and the  windows of their car were broken.
Two current Grade 12 students spoke about current situations involving weekend parties and partying in local parks, and stressed the importance of knowing  where your kids are and who they're with.
Lisa Pedrini, school safety coordinator, spoke on the importance of keeping the lines of communication open with our teens, establishing boundaries with them, and following through with consequences for inappropriate behavior.
Principal Mary Daniel and councellor Carrie Pitman spoke on some school perspectives and initiatives.
Also in attendance was Anka Raskin (Social Planner, City of Vancouver).  She informed us about the 'Youth Outreach Team' which involves youth as active planners in the development, assessment and delivery of civic services which have an impact on youth.
The session was followed by questions and comments from the audience.
Thanks to everyone involved in making this a successful and informative evening, Please BE "HALLOWEEN SAFE"


Flyer with information to give notice of  the teen safety meeting  October 19, 2004



The group has a copy of an article that describes a random attack on a youth in the Kitsilano neighborhood. The article is '24-year-old jumped 'for no reason' on Trafalgar Street near Broadway, Brutal random attack puts student in hospital' by Mike Howell in The Vancouver Courier February 15, 2004.

A preliminary search on the Internet for some links:

A teen report card on adults: one of the things parents can do better to improve their scores:
-- Pay attention. Be courageous. Build safe communities for teens.
http://www.charleston.net/stories/071503/ink_15inkcard.shtml

This article focuses on two things:
20 mins a day spent teaching social skills in elementary school reaps rewards
A program called PEP - Positive Education Program - for those 150-200 secondary students with big problems - done in Cleveland
http://search.csmonitor.com/durable/2000/05/02/p1s1.htm

US Dept of Justice - just shows many of the ideas we discussed
http://www.usdoj.gov/kidspage/getinvolved/

A nice little article about parent responsibilities - discusses three keys for successful monitoring:
http://www.lancastercountysc.net/healthylancaster/safecommunites.asp

Discusses how one community has used teen involvement in getting out the message for traffic safety in the community - same structure could be used to discuss
other types of community safety.
http://www.edc.org/buildingsafecommunities/vol2_6/teens.htm

This article discusses the "Teen Maze Program" -- Teen Maze is designed to "bring to life" the potential outcomes to life's decisions related to substance abuse, sex,
and vocational/educational issues. The rest of the site is mainly concerned with traffic safety.
http://www.safecommunities.org/news/2004/article_2004_01_23_0006.php

This discusses a teen led safety campaign with adult mentors - building a neighborhood network and expanding into the community. The next step is using public
relations to get the community, government leaders, social service agencies and protective services committed and involved
http://www.compeace.org/sys-tmpl/partner/

This discusses a BC Coalition for Building Safer Communities - mainly in smaller communities
http://www.ccsd.ca/cp/bulletin/2e.pdf

An article about the "Reena Project" done in Richmond
http://www.prevention.gc.ca/en/library/publications/prevention/issue07/article08.html

Search Institute's 40 developmental assets are concrete, common sense, positive experiences and qualities essential to raising successful young people. These assets
have the power during critical adolescent years to influence choices young people make and help them become caring, responsible adults.
 http://www.search-institute.org/assets/

http://www.search-institute.org/

The Live Violence Free broadcast campaign is a 10-year partnership project between the B.C.
                         Association of Broadcasters and the government of British Columbia, developed by the Ministry of
                         Women's Equality. The broadcasters are contributing air-time valued at $5 million dollars annually for
                         10 years. The campaign's objective is to promote and encourage violence prevention activities.
In addition to the Live Violence Free initiative, government funds a range of prevention programs to
                         help children and youth recognize and deal with abuse and violence, as well as community crime
                         prevention programs. The BC government also funds a variety of programs and services which support
                         individuals who have experienced violence.
 http://www.bced.gov.bc.ca/live_vf/

 http://www.pssg.gov.bc.ca/community_programs/funding/crimeprevention/safe-streets-schools-fund.htm

Online Safe Communities Kit
 http://www.pssg.gov.bc.ca/community_programs/publications/index.htm

 http://www.takingastand.com/

Katy Hutchinson, the Mother of eleven-year old twins, Emma and Sam, resides with her family in Victoria, BC.  She moved to Vancouver Island six years ago,
following the horrific murder of her husband Bob McIntosh.   In the course of dealing with the legal issues surrounding Bob's death, she met and married lawyer
Michael Hutchison.
   After Bob's murder on New Year's Eve 1997 Katy waited for five years while the RCMP worked tirelessly to obtain the evidence to prosecute and convict his
killers.  During that period, Katy developed her  perception of the societal forces and lack of understanding amongst young people that created the circumstances
leading to Bob's death.  She grew to recognize the need to advise and educate young members of the community about the risks that arise with the combination of
young people, alcohol, and a lack of supervision.
   Katy is currently divides her time between working with her husband Michael in his law practice and her growing professional speaking career.  She is happiest
when playing on the beach with her kids and their dog, Halle, and tries to fit in the occasional game of golf...
 http://www.katyhutchisonpresents.com/
(In the fall of 2003 Katy Hutchinson presented to Kits Students at Kits and to Vancouver parents at Magee)

 SMARTRISK is a national non-profit organization dedicated to preventing injuries and saving lives.
 http://www.smartrisk.ca/

By definition, the Stupid Line is the line of choice that we each have that separates smart risk from stupid risk. By crossing your stupid line, you’ve taken a risk that may result in injury. But there are five choices that can be made to keep from crossing the Stupid Line: Buckle Up. Drive Sober. Look First. Wear the Gear. Get Trained.
http://www.smartrisk.ca/ContentDirector.aspx?tp=1070&dd=8

No Regrets is a peer leadership program for Canadian high schools. It addresses the fact that injuries kill more Canadian teenagers than all other causes of death combined.
 http://www.smartrisk.ca/ListingContributions.aspx?dd=5&sd=146

http://www.fightcrime.org/

http://www.pcrs.ca/
 

Also see Links of General Interest to Parents
 

Related book:

"HOLD ONTO YOUR KIDS: Why Parents Matter" by Gordon Neufeld and Gabor Maté
and
Course available on DVD "MAKING SENSE OF ADOLESCENCE" by Gordon Neufeld
 http://www.gordonneufeld.com/

See also Kits PAC Bullying at School

See also Kits PAC Focus Group on Drug and Alcohol Education
 



http://www.bcamberalert.ca
The AMBER ALERT program has come to B.C.  An AMBER ALERT is issued in certain child abduction situations.  You will hear the details on your local radio and television station - please keep your eyes open and report anything to 9-1-1.




 Kits PAC Special Interest Groups