THUNDER BAY – The use of a location-based tracking app to monitor the whereabouts of youth in the city has the interest of some members of the public while others have concerns.
Using technology and collaboration to improve youth safety in Thunder Bay was the subject of a town hall meeting hosted by Coun. Frank Pullia on Wednesday night, which drew about 40 people to the Kinsmen Youth Centre.
Pullia and technology advisor Angelo Petta shared details about the E-Safe Pilot Project initiative being overseen by the Windigo First Nations Council, were announced. Petta described the app as a small-scale prototype with about 10 youth in Thunder Bay currently using the system, which was launched three months ago.
The app uses a form of digital location called geofencing, which allows for virtual perimeters to be set up around locations and sends notifications when users of the app come and go, which could capture information on school attendance, curfew performance and social activity.
Petta said the system will show when students arrive and leave from school or residences but it can also issue alert when youth are in high-risk locations such as around waterways, high crime areas or known sex offender locations.
“It’s another tool in the toolbox,” Petta said. “It’s a tool we haven’t exercised yet.”
Multiple questions were asked by several people about how the data would be collected, its security and who would have access.
Fort William First Nation chief executive officer Ken Ogima said while he supports community safety, the idea leaves a bad taste in his mouth.
“I feel very uncomfortable as an Indigenous father hearing that my children, there’s plans being put in place to track my children,” Ogima said.
“Is there a way to use innovation and technology to bring together all the partnering agencies so we can make a more vibrant, healthy, safe community for our children as opposed to subjecting our youth to a tracking system?”
City aboriginal liaison Ann Magiskan called on parents and boarding home hosts to have a presence in the lives of the youth and to enforce curfews, adding verbal communication is essential.
Mental health is a specific need that has to be addressed, she added.
“It’s great to track a child or a young person but if you’re tracking a child or a young person and you’re not dealing with any of the health issues then we’re not creating solutions,” Magiskan said.
Pullia, who said the development of the app is not a city initiative, made it clear nobody will be forced to use the app.
“This is a first step in the long journey to have that discussion about being a safe, welcoming community,” said Pullia, the city’s child and youth advocate. “Technology in my mind is just one small piece of the big puzzle that has to be filled in to get to that goal we all want.”
Cindy Spackman, a local elementary school teacher, said the concept of notifications when students arrive and leave school premises is intriguing.
“That was interesting to me technologically but the next thought that came into my head was is this not similar to people out on parole who have to wear ankle bracelets. I thought just how far down that road does our society want to go,” Spackman said.
“But as I listened to some of the other people who asked questions and presenters, I realized people are concerned enough about student safety that perhaps the privacy concerns are outweighed by the safety concerns.”
