Rick Hanson has been in policing for 35 years after education in social sciences and later training in management and leadership. Rick began his remarks with a thank you to Denise Penner-Collins for making high school Social Studies so interesting.

Did you know that Calgary is in the top 15 cities in North America by population - and 27th for danger based on population? In Canada, Calgary has second lowest ratio of police force to population. Big cities have more data and visibility, however small towns possibly have a greater crime rate on a population basis. Summary - CPS and Calgary are doing well. How do we make it even better?

Gangs get a lot of attention. Effectiveness is based on enforcement. However, more important are getting to the contributing factors that lead youth into gangs, and gathering intelligence of activities.

As prevention aspects are so important, the key time to influence children is before they leave primary school. Young children are affected by many sources of information, such as TV, frequently negative, the internet and texting.

For the computers, the place for the family computer is in the kitchen or living room, where parents can help children make healthy decisions and minimize the exposure to those preying on children. Children are now peer-parenting by frequent contact with friends through phone and texting.

Education in schools needs to be part of the curriculum in all grades, dealing with the issues that are their reality and priority. For example, bullying is different for different ages. Lectures do not work. Mentors do work.

Drugs are varied, addictive, and prevalent - where distributors make markets through peer connections. Crystal meth is addictive immediately and sometimes is hidden in less addictive drugs, such as marijuana.

Parents want to do what is best for their children, and need education on health, technology, social pressure issues that face their children. Some programs are designed for families and others for parents.

An aspect of adult crime is the prevalence of the homeless, many of whom are affected by mental illness. The result involves cycles where people have mental illness, live without homes, are enticed into addictive behaviour, commit crimes for money, are convicted of the crimes, spend time in jail and then are ejected onto the street with no new life skills - and the cycle continues.

The part of the prison population that is mentally ill is increasing as facilities have been curtailed. Programs that provide Homes First have been more successful than shelters.

There are more successful initiatives that are partnerships among private sector, community and government. The CPS wants to be part of all community development that provides safe, healthy, respectful homes.

What can we do? Be aware of our communities. Support initiatives and partnerships that educate, mentor and support those in need. (If you want more details please email Jim Willson for a five-page summary with the Crime Prevention and Reduction Continuum and component descriptions.)

Don Bateman thanked our speaker for leadership in community work that makes our city a better place to live.

reported by Jim Willson