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Winners and Nominees 2005

Award Winners2005

The Department of Justice, in collaboration with the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police, is pleased to present the winner, runners-up, and nominees for the sixth annual Minister of Justice National Youth Justice Policing Award. The Award recognizes the efforts of police officers who undertake their work in a manner that reflects, promotes, and is consistent with the spirit and goals of the government's initiative to renew youth justice in Canada.

The following factors were taken into account in selecting the winner and runners-up:

  1. Innovation and creativity in dealing with youths who have come into conflict with the law.
  2. The development and/or effective use of one or more of the following:
    • police discretion at the front end of the youth justice process;
    • conferencing as a means of assisting in decision making throughout one or more parts of the youth justice process;
    • community-based alternatives to the formal court process or custody; and
    • rehabilitation and reintegration of youths through positive police/youth activities.
  3. The accomplishment of one or more of the following goals:
    • fostering respect for societal values;
    • emphasizing responsibility to the victim and the community;
    • helping young people understand the impact of their actions;
    • enabling young persons to make the connection between the offence and its consequences;
    • encouraging the involvement of parents, families and the community in the rehabilitation and reintegration of youths;
    • assisting particularly disadvantaged groups or communities; and
    • increasing community involvement in the youth justice system.

For this year's award, 17 nominations were received from police services and individuals across Canada. This booklet celebrates the efforts of all the nominees, and informs others in the police and wider community about their exemplary achievements.

List of Winners

Certificate of Distinction:

Honourable Mentions:

Nominees for 2005 Award
(by police service, in alphabetical order)

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Nominees

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Constable Judy Green
Bathurst Police Service

Constable Judy Green's initiative was launched in January 2005 as part of her volunteer duties as the Adopted Cop at South Bathurst Elementary School. This program was then extended to Parkwood Heights School. The program is called “Special Constable” and one student at each of these two schools is selected at the beginning of each month by the principal. The criterion for nominating students may be as simple as a child doing a good deed for his or her classmates, teachers or parents. The child's name is put in a hat and at the end of the month, the selection is made. The child is sworn in as a Special Constable and drives around in the police vehicle, visits the mayor and signs the city's guest book, visits the police station and is introduced to the police chief and the staff. The child receives a big bag of goodies, including police T-shirt, hat, pins, and pencils. Constable Green obtains these goodies from local businesses or purchases them with her own funds.

This is basically a prevention program which is pro-active. Many kids come from backgrounds that could be considered at-risk. This program was initiated by Constable Green and feedback has been very positive from school authorities, police, the mayor's office, and the kids themselves.

Contact Person:
Constable Judy Green
(506) 548-0420

S/Sgt. Kevin Morash, Det. Michelle Hoard, and Det. Dave Emmorey
Durham Regional Police Service

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In 2003-2004, the Be Aware…Be Safe project was researched and launched. This project was a joint venture between the Durham Regional Police Service, the Durham District School Board, and the Sexual Assault Care Centre of Ontario. S/Sgt. Kevin Morash, Det. Michelle Hoard, and Det. Dave Emmorey have been nominated for their work in developing resource materials, including a video/DVD, an instructional guide tied to the Ontario Curriculum, and wallet cards with information on safety and victim services. The objectives of the project are to encourage safe and positive interpersonal choices; to provide comprehensive information and resources on sexual assault; and to inform people about the investigative and legal process. This material has been distributed and the program implemented in the Durham District School Board secondary and elementary school systems. The program is an educational tool aimed at youths who have been victims of crime or have found themselves on the wrong side of the law.

Contact Persons:
S/Sgt. Kevin Morash, Det. Michelle Hoard, and Det. Dave Emmorey
(905) 579-1520 ext. 4412 

Constable Doug Green
Edmonton Police Service

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Constable Doug Green's Dogs for Drug-Free Schools program was initially proposed in December 2003. It took its first steps in March 2004 and began having an impact on students' lives. The program, run by Constable Green of the Edmonton Police Service, combines a presentation with a passive drug dog demonstration. Proactive and preventative, the mission of this intervention program is to keep students and schools safe and drug-free by reducing the presence of drugs and their associated problematic issues. Educating youth about the frightening truths of drug use and drug possession, and promoting partnership between police and school communities are two of the program's objectives. The presence of the dog, Ebony, also has a ripple effect in breaking down barriers between police and students. Constable Green's program has been impressive in rapidly gaining the attention of school boards and police departments across the nation.

Contact Person:
Constable Doug Green
(780) 413-2700

Constable Aaron Nicholls
Edmonton Police Service

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Constable Aaron Nicholls was nominated by the Edmonton Police Service for his work with the Alberta Conflict Transformation Society (ACTS). A novel approach to engaging youths and holding them accountable for their actions, this non-adversarial system meets a number of social objectives by empowering victims, repairing harm to victims and communities, and reintegrating offenders into the community. With the help of a facilitator, the victim, the offender, and their support groups, victims express their displeasure with the offenders' actions and offenders see the face of the victim. The system makes an offender see in real terms what pain his or her actions have caused the victim. In most cases, a mutually agreeable conclusion is reached and reparation begins. Conflict Transformation holds young persons accountable to their victims in a way the courts cannot. The system reinforces family values and increases the satisfaction rate of victims with both the process and the results. This method, which focuses on correction rather than punishment, has proved extremely cost effective.

Contact Person:
Constable Aaron Nicholls
(780) 496-8502

Hamilton Police Service
Youth Drug Diversion Program

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Constables Dan Besse, Lorraine Edwards, Jacquie Leishman, Perry Mason, Frank Miscione and Jack VanderPol, Sergeants Nancy Goodes-Ritchie and Richard Floriani of the Hamilton Police Service were nominated for their work with the Hamilton Youth Drug Diversion Program in 2003 and 2004. The objectives of the program are to combat the serious issue of drug use among young people by employing prevention and enforcement strategies and focusing on education, awareness and accountability. Police officers deliver drug awareness seminars at all of the Hamilton-area high schools. A number of community partners are involved, such as Alternatives for Youth, the City of Hamilton 's Culture and Recreation Division, Public Health and Community Services, Healthy Lifestyles and Youth, Community Dispute Resolution Service, East Kiwanis Boys and Girls Clubs, Good Shepherd Centres and the John Howard Society of Hamilton , Burlington and Area. The ultimate goal of the program is for the young person to have no further drug-related police involvement.

Contact Persons:
Sergeants Nancy Goodes-Ritchie and Richard Floriani
(905) 546-4963

Community Resource Unit
Lethbridge Regional Police Service

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The Lethbridge Regional Police Service Community Resource Unit continues to develop programs and initiatives that look beyond the formal court system when dealing with young persons who may come into conflict with the law. Since 1997, the ALERT (Assisted Learning Environment Response Team) program has been helping at-risk youths choose and practise safe and healthy lifestyles. It is a partnership of the police service, local school boards, and regional health and family services. The B-Smart program is a bullying prevention program that is presented to grade five students. The C-Smart program is a unique conflict-management course that addresses issues such as conflict, communications strategies, intimidation, weapons and gangs, cultural diversity, and community resources. The Promotion of Online Safety is a collaborative project between the Canadian Centre for Threat Assessment and Trauma Response and the Lethbridge Regional Police Service, which deals with online violence that involves youths. C.A.L.M./Law Class (Career and Life Skills Management) helps grade 11 students deal with real concerns.

Contact Person:
Inspector Eugene Wehlage
(403) 327-2210

Inspector Irena Lawrenson
Ontario Provincial Police, Orillia

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Inspector Irena Lawrenson of the Ontario Provincial Police (Orillia) is currently corporate lead for both the Youth Criminal Justice Act and Restorative Justice. Insp. Lawrenson provided leadership during the YCJA implementation (2003) in working with communities and the officers themselves. This included development of training material and a video specifically designed for front-line officers. The result of her efforts is that deferrals under the YCJA to the various community agencies throughout the province are seamless to the officer and only noticeable for the absence of court proceedings. To the communities served, the value is that youths are properly dealt with and the recidivism of youth crime appears on the decrease. Insp. Lawrenson is actively training and organizing justice circle training in her area, not only for the OPP but for other police services and for community members. This ongoing work is fuelled by hundreds of hours of personal time put in by this officer.

Contact Person:
Inspector Irena Lawrenson
(705) 329-6057

Constable Caroline Kennedy
Ontario Provincial Police, Western Region

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Constable Caroline Kennedy was nominated by the Ontario Provincial Police, Western Region, Middlesex Detachment, for her work in implementing a process for the Youth Criminal Justice Act legislation. Constable Kennedy developed a regional model for a Pre-charge Diversion Program for young persons, a protocol for administering the YCJA. She conducted an environmental scan of agencies and functions with the Western Region and then consulted and negotiated with various agencies to provide the program in the region. She developed a regional training strategy and continued to consult with the agencies and became a valuable resource for them during this transition. The developed material and Memorandum of Understanding/Protocol were shared provincially. A referral and tracking system is in place, and the support of various agencies allows for diversion of youths. Constable Kennedy is a leader in the field of YCJA. Her ongoing compassion for youth is now targeted at providing restorative justice processes and structure as well as training to the community and police officers alike. Constable Kennedy's work has had a positive and effective impact on the youths, officers and youth agencies in the Western Regional jurisdiction.

Contact Person:
Constable Caroline Kennedy
(519) 652-4108

Sergeant Kenneth Smith
RCMP District 3 Kennebecasis Detachment

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Upon his RCMP posting in Sussex, N.B., in July 2002, Sergeant Kenneth Smith took it upon himself to spearhead an initiative to help deal with youths and youth crime. In 2003, he gathered support from the community, holding information sessions and encouraging involvement from local business leaders, volunteers, politicians, professional support services and religious organizations. His goal was to get these community groups working with the RCMP to help deal with youth crime and homelessness. This collaboration paved the way for the Sussex Youth Outreach Initiative, which provides an avenue for police to divert children who may be heading towards a formal court process; to put these youths in contact with positive role models in the community; and to help them deal with some of the social fallout of volatile family situations. It provides a place to hang out, to get help with homework, to get advice, and even to stay for up to 30 days. This initiative helps rehabilitate and reintegrate youth back into the community, regardless of age or social standing. Sgt. Smith is a strong believer in the CAPRA (RCMP Community Problem Solving Model) principles and used his 30 years of policing experience to come up with this unique approach to dealing with troubled youths.

Contact Person:
Sergeant Kenneth Smith
(506) 433-7700

Team IZZAT
Richmond RCMP and Vancouver City Police

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Team Izzat consists of 22 members of Richmond B.C. RCMP and Vancouver City Police who volunteered their time in 2004-05 to connect with youths, primarily South Asian youths. They also work with youths from all backgrounds. “ Izzat ” means respect in Punjabi, Hindi and Urdu. The team focuses its attention on the good kids, reinforcing the value of “being on the good side of the law.” Team Izzat members connect with young people in a non-threatening way at their level, through special events and outreach programs organized during off-duty hours. They focus on youths between 11 and 17 years of age in the minority South Asian community where instances of gang violence have led to stereotyping and negative influences. In addition to giving school talks and conferences, the team engages in activities such as playing three-on-three basketball games, building children's playgrounds, and visiting a pro-football game. Other programs included The Onside Program, Positive Tickets, and Graffiti Book. Team Izzat's commitment is demonstrated by members of the RCMP and Vancouver Police who volunteer their time to special efforts, and it is proof that people can make a real difference in the lives of others.

Contact Person:
Superintendent Ward Clapham
(604) 278-1212

Constable Scott Mills
Toronto Police Service

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Police Constable Scott Mills was nominated by the Toronto Police Service for his work on Project Internet-Truancy, a proactive approach to addressing high school student truancy and how it relates to youth crime, especially violent crime and gang-related activity. The project involves deploying uniformed officers to nine area high schools, as well as numerous Internet Cafés and other businesses during and after school hours. The objectives are to reduce violent incidents involving youths; reduce daytime residential break and enters; reduce calls for service at schools; reduce truancy at high schools; and to increase Internet awareness and investigation. The program ran from February 21 to June 24, 2005 . The following stakeholders work collectively to achieve these goals: police, school staff, student councils, parents and guardians, the Children's Aid Society, local small businesses, and private enterprise. Police Constable Mills has presented lectures to Children's Aid workers, parent and teacher groups, and leading members of school boards. He has also worked to assist bullied students with a special focus on Asperger's Syndrome and autism. The full impact of the project cannot be measured because of privacy issues, as certain information may never be disclosed to the public.

Contact Person:
Constable Scott Mills
(416) 808-1400

Vancouver Police Department
Police Officer Mark Lavallee

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Constable Mark Lavallee of the Vancouver Police Department is very visible as School Liaison Officer at the Vancouver Technical Secondary School. This inner city school is attended by 1750 students speaking over 52 different languages and has the second-largest First Nations population in Vancouver. Improvements to the school environment are very impressive and include reductions in locker break-ins, vending-machine damage, interior and exterior graffiti and other vandalism, school suspensions, and absenteeism. Constable Lavallee's work is based on caring and respect, being accessible even on weekends, and encouraging community involvement.

Contact Person:
Constable Mark Lavallee
(604) 713-8215

Date Modified: 2011-12-01

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