THIS DAY IN JOURNAL HISTORY
March 18, 1976: Seniors get a lesson on how to blow the whistle on crime
Edmonton’s pensioners were practising at being fast on the draw — but it wasn’t pistols they were packing.
The latest in self-defence for senior citizens was whistle power, with whistles supplied by the Fraternal Order of Eagles, a local men’s lodge.
“The only problem is that we’re not sure where to carry them,” said 80-yearold Daisy Rowe, after picking up her whistle at the Society for the Retired and Semi-Retired, now known as SAGE (Seniors Association of Greater Edmonton).
“If we carry them in our pockets, we’ll have to learn to be pretty fast on the draw.”
The Eagles, an international fraternal organization, handed out 3,000 whistles to pensioners that week.
The idea came from Los Angeles, where seniors were using whistles to raise the alarm and call for help in emergencies.
The “Blow the Whistle on Crime” campaign was launched at the Strathcona Place Society, where pensioners received whistles and the campaign was explained to them by the Eagles and city police chief Robert Lunney.
Men were not as keen on the whistles, explaining they felt they could look after themselves.
Today, police officers who speak to seniors about safety offer all kinds of proactive advice, including being aware of your surroundings when you’re out.
Technology now exists that allows people to summon help if they’ve fallen at home.
They can also take cellphones along when they’re out.
As for summoning help if you get in trouble on the street, police say it’s more effective to yell “help” than to blow a whistle.