Safe Community Rainy River

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Name of the Community: Rainy River District
Country: Canada
Number of inhabitants: 23,000
Programme started year: 1994
International Safe Communities Network Membership: Designation year : 2002
Info address on www for the Programme: www.who2002.com
Info address on www for the institution: www.rrfdc.on.ca

The programme covers the following safety promotion activities:

Children 0-14 years:

• D.A.R.E. (Drug Awareness Resistance Education)
• School Violence Committee
• Block Parents
• Infant/Toddler Restraint Program
• School Bus Safety
• Safe Ice Program
• Bike Rodeos
• TAPP-C – The Arson Prevention Program for Children
• Healthy babies, Healthy children program
• Dental hygiene awareness

Youth 15-24 years:

• D.A.R.E. (Drug Awareness Resistance Education)
• School Violence Committee
• Impaired Driving Simulator
• School Bus Safety
• Safe Ice Program
• Bike Rodeos
• SAP Partners the Chem-Free Grad Program
• Safe Babysitting Course
  

Adults 25-64 years:

• DARE Parent Awareness Training
• Crime Stoppers
• Community Policing Committee -"Operation Pumpkin", where the community gets involved in preventing crime during "Gate Night" the evening prior to Halloween.
• School Violence Committee
• Block Parents
• Festive Ride Program
• Safe Ice Program
• Travelling alone for Women
• Good Neighbours Council - (Smoke free/Alcohol free socials)

Elderly 65+ years:

• 55 Alive –A defensive driving program. Aimed at improving people who are 55 years of age and over, ability to drive safely.
• Elder Fraud: This program has the police work together with the local banks to educate the elderly about phone fraud and scam artists/criminals.
• Seniors Safety Coalitions - There are three coalitions in the District that meet and discuss senior safety issues. They developed the home safety checklist. They also came up with the medicine cabinet clean out every fall. These inspections are conducted by local volunteers, homecare workers and the Victoria Order of Nurses. Tai Chi Classes are held every week at the senior residences and homes. They also have a seniors theatre group that puts on plays to bring safety awareness to the seniors. The play is called Pills & Spills.

At the following environments:

Home:

• Challenger Training Unit (Mr. Charlie Turgeon) – House on Fire Simulator
• Christmas Tree Pickup
• Mutual Aid Association
• Hazardous Waste Day
• Fort Frances Sportsplex First Aid and CPR
  

Traffic:

• Bicycle Helmet Program
• RIDE Program
  

• SCIP -1998 Safe Communities Incentive Program –
  Since the beginning of this workplace awareness program we have worked with 183 businesses on implementing safety programs and compliance programs in their workplace. In the year 1998, 88 SCIP businesses received $133, 000.00 in rebates from the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board. For the year 2000, the 115 businesses received $208,000.00 back in rebate. We have 123 businesses participating in the 2001 program.

Rural/Agricultural:

• 4-H
• Rainy River Rural Safety Association. A Farm and Agriculture Safety Committee. They see that all farm families receive First Aid and CPR. They are working on a safe farm audit.

School:

• D.A.R.E. (Drug Awareness Resistance Education)
• SAP Partners the Chem-Free Grad Program
• RISKWATCH –Since 1999- This is a curriculum based safety training awareness with five module levels. It targets children in junior kinder-garden through Grade 8. The program covers eight safety risk areas.
• Learn not to burn- A fire safety curriculum with program, in the French and English language.
• Safe Playgrounds - This was started in 1997. The result is a playground safety audit. All of the playgrounds where revamped or closed if unsafe. Many of the playgrounds in schools where also torn down and new ones built.
  

Sports:

• Recreation Safety
  Fort Frances Sports Centre – Swimming lessons for all District residents aged 3months to adults. Life Guard Certification is also offered along with exercises for health.
• Snowmobile Safety and Certification Training for all District Residents
• Firearm Certification and Training to all District Residents Interested
• Boating Safety and Certification Training for all District Residents
• Marine Safety – Enforcement on area lakes and rivers. OPP have an active marine program both on and off the lakes.
• In the implementation stages of the Snowmobile STOP Program – Snowmobile Trail Officer Patrol.
  

Leisure:

• Mock-tail bars- Available for all community events that involve alcohol consumption as an alternate to consuming alcohol. This also promotes safe driving.
• Designated Driver Program - This offers free pop/fruit juice and munchies for designated drivers at all Bars in the District. Local businesses such as Pizza Hut give coupons for a free pizza to those who are Designated Drivers.
• Grab a Cab Program - Cab coupons/vouchers during holiday season that patrons can access at local pubs and restaurants where alcohol is served.
  

Programs aiming at the Aboriginal Community:

• Native Friendship Centre- They are dedicated to enhancing the lives of native and non-native people in our community and surrounding area.
• Aboriginal Healing and Wellness Programs: to reduce family violence, promote healthy life styles, cultured based programming, and healing.
• Aboriginal Youth Support Program: For youth aged 6 to 13 years of age. The four components addressed in the program are: social, cultural, education and recreation.
• Urban Multipurpose Aboriginal Youth Program: Open to youth from 14 to 18 years of age. The main focus of the program is a drop in centre where all the noted programs and services are run. The major component is cultural identity in terms of the teachings from Elders, drumming, dancing, the language and crafts.
• Aboriginal Family Support Program: Support is provided to children through provision of holistic, healing, prevention services, which address the level of dysfunction prevalent among urban Aboriginal Families.
• Aboriginal Prenatal Nutrition Program: This is a federally funded program that offers support to urban Aboriginal women and their babies up to six months of age.
• Aboriginal Life Long Care Program: This program was developed to ensure the development and provision of culturally appropriate community support services and professional services, with particular attention to the needs of Aboriginal seniors/Elders, the "disabled", and the chronically ill with special needs.
• Aboriginal alcohol/Drug Program: Offers support to Aboriginal people who may have alcohol/drug addiction.
• Aboriginal Healthy Babies Program: Promotes optimal physical, cognitive, communicative and social development in at risk Aboriginal children between 0 to 6 years of age and have access to a range of prevention and early intervention services.
• Head Start Summer Program: For children ages 3-5 who are from Aboriginal descent and entering school in the Fall. This program teaches children school readiness skills with a focus on culture and language. This curriculum also concentrates on parental involvement, education, health promotion, nutrition, and social support programs.

Participation in Safe Community conferences:
Harstad, Norway; Latrobe, Hume, Australia; Rotterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Vienna, Austria; Prague, Czech Republic; Anchorage, USA; Dhaka, Bangladesh;  Fort McMurray, Kingston, Medicine Hat, Peterborough, Canada.

For further information contact:
Jeanette Cawston
Rainy River Future Development Corporation
400 Scott Street
Fort Frances, Ontario P9A 1H2
Canada
Phone 1-800-465-8502 (toll free) or 1-807-274-3276
Fax: 1-807-274-6989
jencawston@hotmail.com
Grace Silander
ambulanc@ff.lakeheadu.ca
Mike Bird
mike_bird@abicon.com
Doug Langtry
kdlangtry@netscape.net

 
Updated by Moa Sundström, 2002-10-29 14:39.