THUNDER BAY — Consultations will start on Tuesday on the development of the provincially-mandated community safety and well-being plan for Thunder Bay.
The Safer Ontario Act, passed in 2018, requires municipalities to develop a plan before 2021.
Under the government's framework, it will identify the major risks to community safety and well-being, prioritize them, and identify which populations are most vulnerable.
The plan must outline how these risks will be mitigated.
In Thunder Bay, city council has chosen the Crime Prevention Council to oversee the project.
It's broad-based, having representatation from 45 local organizations in 18 different sectors, but other groups will also be brought in to participate.
The CPC will gather input from the community and analyze available data including information from police, service providers such as the Sexual Abuse Centre, the Thunder Bay District Health Unit and the Lakehead Social Planning Council.
Lee-Ann Chevrette, the CPC coordinator, says the plan will expand on the CPC's existing community safety and well-being plan.
It will be more comprehensive, she said, because of the involvement of additional stakeholders.
Chevrette said a lot of the preparation for the research has been done over the past year, paving the way for the public consultation stage to begin.
Some of the feedback from the general public will come through an online survey to be launched next week.
Although consultation will involve the entire community, Chevrette said it's particularly important to get the views of individuals who are marginalized and experience risks disproportionately.
"As we go out and do these consultations, we need to be aware of how we engage and who we engage...making sure we hit the mark in terms of connecting with individuals we need to talk to, to help inform this plan," Chevrette told Tbnewswatch.
Although service providers will have a key role in the process, she added "if we keep it at the level of professionals, I don't think we're going to hit the mark."
More details about the project will be available at a public forum Tuesday from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Italian Cultural Centre on South Algoma Street.
