Brooks safe with committee
Sieban has an office in the RCMP detachment and works with the officers on many scheduled event and gets their help on providing different programs and initiatives. She has a discussion forum on one of the local radio stations, she get them to help hand out positive reinforcement whether it is a compliment or actual or if she feels a social media post is needed to cover an event, she will do that too.
One of the more popular initiatives is the SuperKids certificates which is a positive reinforcement which tells the child how well they are doing.
“They get certificate if you’re being a good person,” explains Sieban. “You’re helping out your community, you are going to be recognized for it. You should keep doing that and encouraging that kind of behaviour.”
Sieban noted that the pandemic has not hindered the efforts of the Committee nor has it changed what they are trying to accomplish, she just noted that their efforts are just ‘rerouted.’
“We are reaching out virtually and through social media because pre-COVID we would do a lot more events in person,” she explains. They have to be well aware of the pandemic protocols set forth by the government when they do go out in public.
COVID cancelled the bike rodeo and bike safety event due to the amount of engagement that was needed. They also cancelled traditional Halloween celebrations where youngsters found a safe haven when it turned dark on Halloween evening. Sieban says now the efforts will be rerouted into having more officers in their vehicles engaging with Trick or Treaters and ensuring there are no problems.
There are also the public consultations that they Safe Community Committee says is critical.
“We are here to serve the community and the community’s own perception of their safety is very important,” says Sieban.