This is the official position statement of the Waterloo Region Crime Prevention Council given at a public consultation on the question of a casino in  the City of Kitchener. The remarks below were given by WRCPC Executive Director, Christiane Sadeler on behalf of the Waterloo Region Crime Prevention Council. 

My recent trip to Canada held one major surprise and the image, vivid after more than two weeks, of a kid in a red shirt.

I recently received a pamphlet from the federal government in my home mailbox titled "First Nation Elementary and Secondary Education Consultations" announcing an effort to seek citizen input into Aboriginal education on reserves. This is an area covered by the federal government whereas for other populations, education is a provincial matter. The hope is for proposed legislation to improve educational opportunities for Aboriginal children and youth.

As Kathleen Wynne assumes office as Ontario’s 25th premier the time has never been better for the Ontario government to overhaul and modernize its approach to crime prevention.

And that overhaul is long overdue.

The current model of crime prevention at the provincial level is a fragmented collection of silo-restricted programs and services with multiple competing interests and little coordination. In many respects it hinders and makes it more difficult for communities at the local level to effectively engage in crime prevention through social development.

How can government solve the complex issues facing society?

At a recent event to launch the Friends of Crime Prevention network, we were so fortunate to have Alan Quarry, of Quarry Communications, as our guest. Since we're all about positive social change, we asked Alan to wax poetic on the power of networks, like Friends of Crime Prevention, to advance social change. Anyone looking for tips on the latest tools, apps and gadgets to use might have been disappointed by Alan's talk...

2012 was a busy year for the Waterloo Region Crime Prevention Council. To see what we've been up to, be sure to check out the progress on our 2012/2013 Priority Directions. It's also been busy here on the Smart on Crime blog with over 50 posts, 5 guest bloggers and many comments from readers.

Last night I put together a "Grocery Store Stand" for my four-year old granddaughter. I had difficulty, not because I hadn't been engaged in a similar activity for about 25 years, reading with weary eyes "Easy to Follow" directions written for MIT grads. No, I had a hard time because I would have tears in my eyes thinking of the parents in Newtown, Connecticut who would not be prying open boxes, assembling bikes and bridges and stores and castles, assembling what would be the joyous shouts of discovery, of Christmas.

At this time of year almost every time we turn the on the TV we see a film based on the season. My favourite is “It’s a Wonderful Life”. I'm sure you know it.

Fans of the television show The Simpsons will remember an early episode where a casino opens in Springfield and Marge becomes addicted to gambling.