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C Transpo and local police services celebrated a year of successful collaboration October 11 by presenting awards to five top contributors to the TRANSECURE employee community program. Representatives of the Ottawa, Nepean and Gloucester Police reviewed all public assistance calls that OC Transpo employees made to the transit company’s control centre since TRANSECURE was launched a year ago. They selected four incidents involving five employees whose efforts typify the spirit of the program, including the TRANSECURE Employee of the Year. The key OC Transpo employees involved in each incident were honoured at a ceremony October 11 at OC Transpo’s administrative headquarters on St-Laurent Boulevard. On hand to congratulate the TRANSECURE Employee of the Year and the runners-up were Transpo Commission chairman Andy Haydon, Ottawa Police deputy chief Donald Lyon, Gloucester Police chief Lester Thompson and Nepean Police deputy chief Ron Lamont.
Here are the award winners:
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at the St-Laurent Transitway station September 15. The man had no pulse and was not breathing when he was found in a shelter, but Michel and Gord both knew cardiopulmonary resuscitation and worked as a team to revive the man. When the ambulance arrived, he was starting to breathe on his own. Jean-Guy Leonard, a driver for 14 years, helped a 13-year old boy to bring a man to justice who had assaulted him on a bus two months earlier. The boy spotted his assailant on Jean-Guy’s bus on February 14 and asked him to call the police. JeanGuy’s response was quick, calm and discreet. He parked his bus at a regular stop and behaved as if nothing unusual were happening, stalling for time to allow the Ottawa Police to respond. Driver Andre Sabourin had only been on the road for a year when he helped prevent a break-in at Keith’s Auto Sales on Ogilvie Road May 20. He spotted two young men in the shadows trying to force open the car dealership’s front door. Andre let them know he had seen them and quickly alerted OC Transpo’s control centre, which in turn called the Gloucester Police. The first officer on the scene found the youths fleeing through some bushes.
TRANSECURE Employee of the Year Bus driver Raymond Seguin, who joined OC Transpo in September 1973, foiled a jewel thief who robbed the Walters Jewelry store in Carlingwood Mall on June 26. He chased the man out of the mall and up Iroquois Road, where an Ottawa Police patrolman joined the chase and tackled the thief. Ray risked his life because the thief had a gun, even though it turned out to be a fake. Every piece of jewelry stolen—$109,285 in total value —was recovered on the spot.
Runners up Driver Michel Quesnel, who has been driving for OC Transpo for four years, and Municipal Law Enforcement Officer Gordon Robinson, who joined OC Transpo’s Security and Claims department two years ago, saved the life of an elderly man who had a heart attack
The five top comribulors lo the TRANSECURE program were recemly honoured for their efforts. They include Gordon Robinson, Michel Quesnel, Raymond Séguin, Andre Sabourin and Jean-Guy Leonard
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CONTENTS
1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
OC Transpo 1 A Happy Anniversary 3 Policing Ottawa 5 Violence Against Women 7 Parental Abductions 17 Be Careful It May Explode 23 Do I Really Need This Internet 27 A Fatal Accident 31 Oxycontin - Killing Pain And People 35 Runaways 37 Alcohol Abuse 41 How To Deal With Conflict 46 Youth Gangs 51 Sexting - Keeping Teens Safe 54 Ontario Safe Boating 61 Armed Robbery 65 Kids And Drugs - What Can I Do 71 Bullying 79 Internet Sexual Exploitation 83 HIV And Canadian Youth 89 The Legion Supports Youth Programs 92 Suicide’s Alarming Statistics 97 Are You Protected 101 Get Them Talking 104
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From the Editor
e at Vantage Publishing Group would like to take this opportunity to thank you, and to proudly let you know you have helped make a difference in our communities across Canada. As with every industry, we are going through a time of change. While we celebrate our 20th anniversary, we realize that the time has come to improve and to give more to our clients and supporters who have created changes in their communities. With this, we are introducing a great new magazine by the name of Crimesense. (www.crimesensemag.com) We have listened to you and have made some changes to improve our strategy, and to give you something even more exciting to read. We are changing the way we publish our magazines; a new set-up, a new look, a new style! The layouts will be different from our previous magazines, and will now be in full colour! This new magazine will have a vast distribution, targeting local communities with relevant articles dealing with crime prevention and social awareness. Traditionally, the police and the criminal justice system have been responsible for ensuring public safety and preventing crime. Increasingly there is a need to expand this partnership to include the general public, the business community, and front line agencies working within the community. Crimesense is that link between various organizations and community members. With the majority of our distribution going to local homes, we hope to reach those who will make a difference. Free copies of Crimesense will also be available at regional police detachments, local schools, local businesses, and community centres. Together with Crimesense Magazine, you will be making a difference in the lives of those in your community. I thank you again for your continued support, and as always, if you have any suggestions or have any ideas for the next issue of Crimesense Magazine, drop me a line at: Jacques@vantagepublishing.ca Let your sixth sense become awareness.
Editor & Publisher Jacques Beauchamp former regional police officer Executive Assistant Christine Panasuk Assistant EDITOR Joyce Li Circulation / Production Joyce Li Graphics & Art www.DESIGNit.CA Printed in Ontario, Canada Dollco Printing Production Co Ordinator Jonathan Beauchamp Business Development Manager Alistair Mair b.a., m.t.s. Columnists Peter S. Mirsky YWCA of Canada Cy Ross Peter Hachey Dale Martel and Campbell River The Center for Parent/Youth Understanding Canadian Paediatric Society Canada Safety Council Diane G. Buhler and Joanne Alcamo Brown PAD Drug Education & Support Services Angela Lorusso www.legion.ca B.J. Caldwell - AIDS Committee of Guelph & Wellington County Walt Mueller Marlene Dalley www.drugprevention.gc.ca
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ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Donn Holt Mike Franklin Thomas Easton Dan Cole
ntario Police News Yearbook is Published by Vantage Publishing Group Corp. and distributed free, all rights reserved. Contents and photographs may not be reprinted without written permission. The statements, opinions and points of view expressed in articles published in this magazine are those of the authors and publication shall not be deemed to mean they are necessarily those of Vantage Publishing Group Corp. or other affiliated organizations. The publisher accepts no responsibility for unsolicited manuscripts, photographs, transparencies or other materials.
Jacques Beauchamp Publisher
613-724-9907 www.vantagepublishing.ca e-mail: info@vantagepublishing.ca 33-174 Colonnade Road, Ottawa, ON K2E 7J5
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successful and charitable get short time, if any at all, and are upstaged by the negative, critical, uncharitable and complaining. One broadcaster, in particular, seems incapable of presenting any news item without a “but” or a “however”. In the difficult economic times of recession, the public’s confidence is essential in order to achieve a recovery. It is counterproductive and, in fact, destructive for the press to dwell on the word “recession” and to emphasize every aspect and attribute of a country’s economic illness. In these difficult and political times of unrest, the public’s respect in democracy and in democratic institutions is essential in order to achieve stability and good government. It is counterproductive and, in fact, destructive for the press to dwell upon personalities, human error and misjudgment. We have become a country of malcontents, and a country of expectancies and selfishness. The press must be held somewhat responsible. The mood is unforgiving and uncharitable.
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ith this issue, Ontario Police News celebrates its first anniversary. It is somewhat less emotional than those we celebrate with our spouses and yet, nonetheless, it is considerably less expensive and perhaps just as worthwhile. We strive to move forward, to achieve and to glimpse the future. A look backwards and around us can give perspective and a sense of direction. This publication is simply that, a publication. It is one of a great many in this country. It is an attempt to capture the attention of the public, to fill a need, to entertain, to educate and, above all else, to interest. It is a kinder, and gentler medium of news and interest than many a publication in this country today. There is little politics, criticism, pessimism and tragedy, the very adjectives that describe the majority of other “newspapers” and publications in Canada. In the last few years, those responsible for the dissemination of news by paper, radio or television, seem to have been caught up in a mood of depression, opposition, and belligerence. The positive, courageous,
It is said that a country is provided with a government it deserves. Should it be said that a public is provided with a press it deserves? Perhaps neither statement is entirely true? One would like to think that if the news took a positive, charitable and educational approach, its public would respond in kind with its support. At this anniversary of Ontario Police News, such would seem to be the case. If ever this country needs such an approach to publication and the news, it is now. There are items and issues of interest which are positive, which reflect success and charity in this country. Recent heroic events of rescue in the North are ample evidence of this. Though Ontario Police News cannot report and review every aspect of what is good and valuable in this country, it can and shall, no doubt, do so in this topic and subject of interest. May this publication continue its responsibility to its public and to the country, and thereby engender, encourage and support a more positive Canada and perhaps a Canada which will live to enjoy the second anniversary of Ontario Police News. Peter S. Mirsky
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KNOW WHEN TO DRAW THE LINE
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ave you noticed something different about the Byward Market? It’s still as busy as ever; people shopping, dining and enjoying this special part of our city. But something is different. And yes, that was an Ottawa Police Officer dashing by on, you guessed it, a bicycle. This is just one example of what the Ottawa Police Force has in store for this community. Chief Thomas G. Flanagan was appointed Chief of the Ottawa Police in 1989. With his appointment, he brought along a philosophy that has clearly changed the way the City of Ottawa is policed. The Chief calls it “community-based” policing - a proactive effort that provides opportunities for communities to help decide what is the best kind of policing to meet their needs. From the changes over the last year, it is very clear that this style of policing will enhance policing and relations in the community. The overall objectives of this program of policing are to: • increase community awareness of crime prevention programs • increase community involvement • identify and develop creative methods of reducing community problems • reduce the occurrence of crime • reduce the fear of crime by building a stronger relationship between the citizens of Ottawa and the Ottawa Police What does all this mean in a practical sense? Well, look around! In only the last year: • three new community police centres have opened. They are based within
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local neighbourhoods: local residents get involved in delivering services in the community; • some areas of the City, like the Byward Market, are being patrolled by officers on bicycles, literally, bringing them closer to the community; • the police have established a mounted patrol on horses to provide better security in parks and less accessible areas; • and, the youth squad has responded to growing concerns about youth gangs developing in Ottawa by studying the problem and developing preventative programs to address this issue before it escalates. The Community Police Centres are perhaps one of the biggest changes. The three centres operating are located in Vanier, Canterbury and Somerset Heights. A fourth is planned to be opened later this year in Carlingwood Heights. The Centres are managed by a civilian committee and an Ottawa Police Inspector who is supported by a constable assigned to the centre and a beat officer who covers the local area. Some traditional crime prevention programs are being promoted through these centres, however the main feature is that the community problems are being solved by members of the community, in partnership with the police. The Ottawa Police have demonstrated great flexibility and creativity in the way their policing services are being delivered. They are providing a service that responds to and focuses on problems and aims to reduce the opportunity for problems to grow and crime to flourish.
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Where a woman lives can affect the way she feels about an abusive relationship and the reasons why she doesn’t leave it. If she lives far from others, she may think she is the only woman being treated badly. In isolated areas, friends are harder to reach and feelings of loneliness are increased. There are fewer choices of what to do, who to talk to, where to go for help. She may not even be aware that what is happening to her, or to women around her, is abuse.
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oo many women live in fear of some form of abuse. Violence against women is a fact of life in communities across Canada.
All kinds of women are abused: young women, old women, women with disabilities, pregnant women, poor and rich women, immigrant and refugee women and women born in Canada. Violence against women happens in cities, in small towns, on farms, and in isolated communities. It happens to women of all races, religions and social classes. Women who live in rural or remote areas face greater hardship.
VIOLENCE CAN HAPPEN TO ANY WOMAN No matter where women live, abuse makes them feel helpless and alone. To be abused is to feel isolated. To be an abused women living in a remote area— or a small community far from helpful services—is to feel doubly trapped and alone. For some abused women who live far from other people, an open field may be the only route of escape. For others, asking for help may mean the whole community will soon know about the problem. Even making a telephone call for help might mean making it on a party line, where a neighbour may overhear.
Women experience violence simply by being women. But many—Aboriginal women, visible minority, immigrant and refugee women—face additional abuse in their lives because of racism. Women with disabilities experience more abuse because of their added vulnerability.
VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN INCLUDES . . . ...Physical Abuse Slapping, punching, kicking, arm twisting, shoving, using a weapon, threatening to use a weapon, burning, withholding medication, cuffing. ...Sexual Abuse • Rape/forcing her to have sex against her wishes—a man does not have the right to force his wife to have sex. • Making her do sexual acts that she doesn’t 1ike. • Sexual harassment... ...Verbal Abuse • Name-calling and put-downs. • Telling her he is doing her a favour by staying with her. • Insulting her in front of other people. • Comparing her in a bad way with other women . . . ...Emotional Abuse • Controlling everything she does Threatening to hurt her • Threatening to hurt someone or something special to her • Threatening to kill himself • Threatening her with deportation • Keeping her immigration/refugee papers • Not letting her have friends or outside interests • Being very jealous • Saying she’ll lose everything if she tries to get away from him • Saying she’ll never see her kids again if she leaves • Opening her mail • Cutting off her phone • Talking about his outside love affairs • Ignoring her • Blaming her for things that are not her fault • Neglecting her . . . ...Economic Abuse • Having control over all money in the home and bank account • Not allowing her to have her own money • Keeping her from getting a job or more education • Making her account for every penny she spends...
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These are just SOME forms of violence against women.
Some Disturbing Numbers You can help stop violence against women. There’s no excuse for abuse. • At least one in ten women living with a man has been assaulted by her partner (Linda MacLeod, Battered But Not Beaten, 1987). • One in four women in Canada will be sexually assaulted in her lifetime. 68.5% of these women are sexually assaulted by men they know (Julie Brickman and John Briere, “Incidence of Rape and Sexual Assault in an Urban Canadian Population”, International Journal of Women’s Studies, vol. 7, no. 3). • On average, between 32 and 41 women were victims of intimate femicide each year in Ontario between 1974 and 1990 (Woman Killing: Intimate Femicide in Ontario 1974-1990, Women We Honour Action Committee, 1992). • Forty percent of wife assault incidents begin during the time of the women’s first pregnancy (Education Wife Assault, Factsheet on Wife Assault, 1985). • It is estimated that more than one-half of wife assault incidents are not reported (Solicitor General of Canada, Female Victims of Crime, Canadian Urban Victimization Survey Bulletin 4, 1985). • 27,000 sexual assaults were reported to police in 1990, almost double the figure in 1985 (Statistics Canada Juristat Bulletin, 1991). • A study of women with disabilities found that almost half had been sexually abused as children, and one in four had been sexually assaulted as an adult. Of 245 women with disabilities, 40 percent had been raped, abused, or assaulted and 64 percent had been verbally abused (DAWN Canada, 1990).
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Why would a Woman Stay? Some People Think... Most women obviously don’t mind the abuse because they continue to live with the abuser. They could leave whenever they wanted. NOT TRUE. There are many reasons why a women might stay. She May Stay Because... • She loves her partner, not the violence. • She made a commitment to the marriage she feels she can’t break. • She believes that her partner needs her and can’t get along without her. • She may be confused, because her partner appears to be loving and caring after the violence. “He’s so full of charm and sweetness, and I really believe he’ll make a change.” • Her partner makes her feel guilty and tells her the abuse is her fault anyway. “You always blame yourself ...think that you said something, even though you didn’t.” • Her partner promises never to beat her again, and begs her to stay.
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“I think he is sick. He used to make all kinds of promises and he would keep them for about a week. And then, the same thing would start all over again.” • She hopes her partner will change. She thinks she can change the batterer’s behaviour. “I thought ‘Things will change’. I didn’t know that I could make it, that I would be happy by myself. I always thought I should try again and again and again, but it never worked.” • Living with fear can break a woman. It can keep her from making even the simplest decisions. • Abuse takes away a woman’s confidence and self-respect. “The thing that’s most hurting for me is the way he makes me feel so dirty, so filthy. He treats me like a dog, worse even. He tells me I’m ugly and worthless. He spits on me.” • Some women see no other choice for themselves. • She doesn’t have the education or the money to make it on her own. She can’t afford to move out and support herself and the children. • She is afraid or ashamed. “It was the fear that I’d get beaten up wherever I went. It’s fear that they put in you.”
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It is her home as much as his. Why should she leave?
Children living with violence Some people think it is better for a child to have two parents, even if there is violence in the family. Not true. Children who live with violence suffer. Whether they are abused, or witness abuse, it can affect them. Living in a home without violence is better for them than living where they never know when violence will start. It is important for children to be with adults who respect them and who respect women. “Last year he abused me most of the time. But I never reported it. I didn’t want to cause anyone any trouble and didn’t want people to look down on me.”
• She is often made to feel that if she leaves, she is to blame for
Children are emotionally hurt by living in a violent home. They live in fear. They don’t feel safe or secure in their own homes. Both boys and girls who see violence at home quickly learn that violence is the way to solve problems. They may get into fights at school or with friends.
• She wants her children to grow up with their father. • Women are taught to believe that their worth is measured by
As they get older, these children are less understanding of their mothers. Some may begin to abuse them as they have seen their fathers do.
“breaking up the family”.
their ability to keep a man. The woman feels that a man who is sometimes violent is better than no man at all. • She believes her partner is the head of the household and has a right to control her.
Girls may believe that abuse is the only way they can live. They are more likely to go into abusive relationships. These children can suffer from trouble at school, sleep problems, headaches, stomach aches, allergies, runaway behaviour and addictions. Some women have special concerns • Immigrant and refugee women may face additional problems in believing that they have to stay with their partners for immigration purposes. • Visible minority and Aboriginal women may not call authorities for help because they fear racist attitudes. • Women with disabilities may not report the abuse for fear of losing a needed service or, when they do report, often they are not believed. • All women need good legal advice if they decide to separate. Older women are more likely to be poor, and especially need to known about changes affecting pensions and other benefits. • Abused women feel it is dangerous to leave. They are at most risk when they separate from their partners.
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Lots of excuses are offered • Some people think men who abuse their partners are mentally ill. Not true. There is too much violence against women in our society for it to be caused by mental illness. • Some people think alcohol and drugs cause violence against women. Not true. Alcohol and drugs are often involved in acts of violence against women, but they are not the cause. • Some people think women who are abused deserve it. Their arguing, nagging, bad housekeeping or overspending drive their partners to violence. Not true. More excuses. Disagreements are part of any relationship, but violence is never the way to solve problems. In some relationships, the partner’s anger is a way of life. Men who batter women believe they are the “boss” and have the right to control everyone in their family. They don’t. No one deserves to be beaten, controlled or to live in fear of violence, no matter what they do. Any or all of these may be true, but it’s no excuse for abuse • He was beaten as a child He gets “stressed out” • He has trouble controlling his anger He can’t handle alcohol or drugs • He feels pressured on the job • He lost his job, or he can’t get a job • He feels that the problems of life are too hard to handle • He has low self-esteem and feels worthless • He is isolated and has no close relationship • He is dependent on her and without her feels worthless. Even if all of the above were true, there’s no excuse for abuse. Abuse is a Choice
Violence is a chosen response with a chosen target. Men do not usually attack their bosses, friends, sister or neighbours when they get stressed out, only their wives or girlfriends. (Some men, about 20% are also violent to others outside their intimate relationships.) It has been easy for men to get away with abusing the women in their personal lives. Isolation, shame, secrecy have allowed men to continue to abuse. Can an abuser stop? If a man really wants to stop the violence against his partner, he must take responsibility for what he does. He must stop blaming his partner, alcohol, drugs, stress, or anything else for the violence. In some areas there is help from a counsellor who is trained to work with abusive men and who understands issues of power and control in relationships. There may be a group for men who abuse women. It is possible for men to learn to change how they act and to learn new ways to relate to women. But it is not easy. And it can’t be done in one or two counselling sessions. It is particularly difficult to find such counselling services in rural or remote areas. Men who abuse must want to change. When violence happens in the family it is not a “private family matter.” Women are strong Women need to remind themselves that they are strong. And that no one has the right to abuse them. Violence is not a private family affair. There’s no excuse for abuse. There are things we can all do by working together to end violence against women. For more information, contact: Community Action on Violence Against Women YWCA of Canada 80 Gerrard Street East, Toronto, Ontario MSB 1G6 Tel: (416) 593-9886 • Fax: (416) 971-8084
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e often associate parental abductions as an act of love for a child, believing that the child is in total security because he is with either his mother or his father. Unfortunately, the reality of this situation is not so. The parent who resorts to abduction usually does so for reasons of revenge, wanting to punish the spouse for splitting up the couple. Often it is his refusal to accept the separation or request for divorce that leads to such an act. A child who is kidnapped lives the life of a fugitive. He must hide and is unable to lead a normal life due to his constant moving from town to town. He is neglected and is forbidden to have contact with people or children from his neighbourhood thus, making it hard to create long-term relationships. He often doesn’t attend school and may suffer from malnutrition and lack of hygiene... Adding further to the child’s distress is his constant separation from the other parent. The abducting parent secures the child’s silence through terror, submission, intimidation and lying. The child may be asked to lie about his origins and his identity. The child’s emotional state is gravely affected which could result in
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long-term psychological damage. Specialists in the field of parental abduction all agree that abduction is a detrimental experience for a child. The abducting parent may pretend in front of the child that the other parent does not love him anymore or that he has abandoned him, wanting to start a new life without him. He can also say that the other parent is in prison. When the child refuses to believe these allegations, the abducting parent is quick to point out that the other parent has not come to retrieve him, therefore the allegations must be true. In a situation like this, the child has no avenue to confide his sorrow and his anguish. He is afraid, alone and isolated. One can only imagine how confused and hurt he must feel when faced with this reality. If or when a child is found, a sentiment of rejection often exists towards the searching parent. He is deeply troubled because he is unable to determine what is the truth. He doesn’t know how to deal with his emotions, he is afraid to betray the abducting parent and doesn’t understand why the searching parent never came to rescue him during the difficult times. Some of the children who have returned home after an abduction, have committed suicide because they were blaming themselves for all the suffering and the misfortunes. This reaction has been identified as “Parental Alienation Syndrome”.
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The parental abduction or the nonreturn is rarely an impulsive gesture. It is meticulously planned to ensure success and to reduce the risk of being located (liquidation of assets, closure of accounts, passport application...) Generally, the abducting parent can count on the complicity of his family and friends for direct assistance or by their silence concerning police authorities and the searching parent. It is important to react quickly when a parental abduction occurs in order to prevent the abducting parent from leaving the country. To this end, an international treaty was signed in 1985 between Canada and 29 other countries. It is known as the Hague Convention. The Convention’s objectives are simple: The prompt return of a child wrongfully taken and ensuring that custodial rights are effectively respected in other countries. In Canada, each province and territory has appointed a central authority responsible for the administration of the Convention. When a central authority is contacted by a searching parent, it immediately contacts the other country’s central authority in order to organize a search as soon as possible and return the child home. In 1986, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (R.C.M.P.) in Ottawa, established “The Missing Children Registry”. It was created to assist the police authorities, at a National and International level, in finding and bringing back abducted children. The Department of Consular Operations External Affairs of Canada can also make recommendations concerning parental abductions.
Another organization that could be of help in dealing with an abduction is International Social Service (ISS). They have offices throughout the world, which are managed by teams of social workers who can act as negotiators, or supply information concerning the legal procedures, cultural characteristics and religious customs of their respective countries. A manual released by the Canadian Research Institute for Law and the Family and Solicitor General Canada, entitled “A Police Reference Manual for Cases of Child Abduction and Runaway Youth” is also available at Policing Policy and Research Division, located at: 340 Laurier Avenue West, Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0P8.
PREVENTION Listed below are general prevention methods which should be followed in order to avoid a parental abduction.
• The custodial parent has to clearly notify any individual to whom the child is entrusted that under no circumstances is he to leave with an individual who has not been specifically authorized and identified. • The legal guardian should have a secret • password with the child’s care-givers. • Babysitters should be advised to never open the door during the parent’s absence. • A copy of the custody order should be submitted to the child’s school or daycare centre.
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There are also many legal aspects to preventing a parental abduction. • Legal custody of the child must be obtained. If the parents are not married or in the process of a divorce, this procedure is also necessary. • All provisions concerning visitation should be specified clearly in the custody order. • If necessary, anticipate issuing a ban on your child leaving the country without your explicit authorization and linked to specific conditions. • Ensure that the ax-spouse’s passport is entrusted to a third party during visits. • An objection notice should be requested from the Canadian passport bureau in order to have the child registered on the “Control List”. • The child should be registered on the custodial parent’ s passport if he doesn’t have one of his own. • If the spouse has a foreign passport check the child’s status with the concerned embassy. • File a certified copy of the custody order with the authorities of the country (state or province) where the ex-spouse lives and/or originates. Maintaining a good relationship with the ax-spouse, his family and his friends is strongly recommended. To achieve that, a parent fearing an abduction should maintain contact and attempt to establish an atmosphere of trust. He should keep a complete record on his ax-spouse, his exspouse’s family and friends. These records should contain information that would help recover a child in the event of an abduction, i.e.: full name at birth, surname and initials, other names (aliases), date and place of birth, citizenship, passport number, social insurance number, driver’s license number, vehicle registration number, a recent photograph... It is also extremely important to maintain a good relationship with the child. Establish a positive and open dialogue concerning the family situation. The child must be reassured that he is not to blame for the family turmoil and the tension between the two parents. Certain things can be taught to a child, depending on his age. Things like his and his parent’s complete name, his telephone number (including the area code), how to make a collect, long-distance call... However, it is crucial that the custodial parent let his child know that he is loved and that he will never be abandoned, no matter what or no matter who says so. If you wish to receive more information, please contact the Missing Children’s Network Canada, 7101 av du Parc, Montréal, QC, H3N 1X9. Telephone (514) 843-4333, Fax (514) 843-8211. Pamphlets detailing preventive measures in order to safeguard against a parental abduction are available. Several indicators of an eventual parental abduction may be identified. The abduction may precede or follow the legal separation or the divorce and especially within a short time before or after the granting of legal custody. Most of the time, the abduction will take place during the exercise of visitation rights. They occur most frequently in families with a history of conjugal violence.
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by Cy Ross
S
uddenly the earth shakes, a cubic mile of rock is pulverized and blows forty miles into the air. Air and shock waves circle the earth four times and 36000 people are killed by Tidal waves within a ninety mile radius of this mighty blast Equivalent to 5 billion tons of TNT, this non-nuclear blast was caused in 1883 by large quantities of molten lava spewing into the ocean and quickly converting a cubic mile of sea water to steam. This blast was not caused by any of the materials we normally identify as explosives. In fact, most accidental explosions are the result of reactions with substances not normally identified as explosives. Why? The reason is that known substances are carefully monitored and controlled and that’s no accident. The explosives materials used to move earth, to crush rock, to enact mining in all its forms whether or not it is for metals, gold, or construction are carefully controlled by a sophisticated team involving all governments and the private sector at all levels. It is due to the knowledge, training, diligence, skill, perseverance and concern of all those who make their living in the Explosives Industry.
And what an industry it is! Historically, the development of GunPowder by the Chinese in 1000 AD was probably the start of man’s reliance on Chemical reactions to liberate gases at various speeds and volumes. “Gunpowder” which liberates gases with low speed but high power is an example of a “deflagrating” or low explosive while Alfred Nobel’s famous “dynamite” is an example of a “detonating” or high explosive as in this latter case, the speed of burning is violent and the gas pressure is high and associated with a high pressure shock wave. In 1957, ANFO explosives were born followed quickly by water gels in 1959. This revolution in new explosives technology was fostered inside the Explosive Industry but the motivation came from the mining industry. Universities entered the picture and technology began to be shared through publications, forums, and conferences to a degree which has continued to accelerate to this day. This new generation of explosives lent themselves to bulk blending and bulk delivery as well as bulk loading. Dynamite became almost a dinosaur as this new technology improved handling and implementation.
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CARMICHAEL ENGINEERING LTD. 1179 Parisien Street Ottawa, Ontario K1B 4W4
Tel.: 613-741-9732 Fax: 613-741-6345
The next thirty years were exciting as major companies all claimed firsts in grease gels, emulsions, emulsion blends, and major improvements in water gels and water-gel blends. Introduced also were better primers, more accurate and therefore better electric and non-electric detonators. Dewatering and drylining with metallized ANFO became a common practice. Old names have faded out, new names have appeared but the thirst for innovation and steady improvement continues. To its credit, the Explosives Industry is not blindly profit motivated. In fact, to a large degree, safety in handling, reliability in performance, improvements in storage capability, and the need to create specifically selected properties such as velocities of detonation, gas volume, strength and density have led to this drive to constantly improve. There now exists vast organizations such as “Cedec” whose sole reason for being is public safety. The “Association of Explosives Engineers” has world conferences and devotes large segments of the agenda to public safety. Each manufacturer has departments and individuals assigned specifically to care and control such that this industry has emerged as one of the best organized for safety. Part of this planning is to have “emergency response plans” in place to quickly respond and react to any problem areas or accidents. The Government of Canada through its Energy, Mines and Resources Explosives Branch imposes controls on the Industry while encouraging it to disseminate safe practices and procedures during Manufacture, Transportation, Handling and Storage. There is a continuous need to keep informed and in line with all current laws which forms part of the understanding during compliance and authorization. The police have a role in explosives and do indeed “stand on guard for thee”. Every Federal Officer is empowered as an inspector of explosives and assists the Explosive Branch to carry out inspection and apply conformance to proper rules of handling, storage, transport and any other area of concern. The Provincial Department of Mines, the Department of Labor, the Provincial Police and all other levels of Government both Provincial and Local are involved in a vast safety net to protect the public from improper use of explosives and explosive materials in whatever form this may take. Remember, if you think it may explode, it probably will. Leave the scene, consult an “expert” (policeman) and be happy you left in time. The officer will determine the hazard and may call in someone from industry to help him. Who knows? It may even be me.
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26 ONTARIO POLICE NEWS PUBLICATION
CDR Staffing Solutions Inc. 7956 Torbram Road, Suite 203, Brampton, Ontario L6T 5A2
Tel.: 905-793-7294 • Fax: 905-793-9305
T
en Years ago most people didn’t even know what an ATM (Automated Teller Machine) was. Today, almost all transactions can be handled without going to a teller. A few months ago as I was making my weekly trip to my bank. A teller which usually serves me at the counter was standing next to the ATM and handed me a flier promoting the use of the ATM vs going to the tellers. I politely asked her if she knew that she was promoting the fact that soon she will no longer be needed? She agreed and said “That’s right, but they’ll have to keep at least a few of us!!”. This lady is absolutely correct. Most banking institutions will not totally eliminate the “People Tellers”. But no one can deny the fact that technology is changing the world as we see it forever. Paul Zane-Pilzer a world noted economist states that the speed at which technology advances is directly proportional to the speed at which we can communicate and gather information. Now with the world’s largest database of information at our finger tips known as the INTERNET, Price waterhouse states that we will see more changes in the next 5 years than we have in the last 50 years.
Just to give you insight on this powerful trend, when was the last time around the Sunday dinner table everyone (including grand-ma) talked about any type of high technology products? The INTERNET is here to stay and many if you may be asking yourselves some very simple questions: Question a) What is the INTERNET? Answer: The future. The INTERNET is the single largest accumulation of information on earth. It gives you access to communicate with over 20 Million computers systems which all have at least one human attached to them. You can have access to information from everything from what’s the best recipe for Cheese Cake to how to make a bomb out of common household goods... Question b) Can it be of use to me? Answer: For most people, the only immediate use for the INTERNET is it’s ability to send electronic mail to anyone in the world who has an INTERNET Email address at little or no cost. But where the INTERNET shines is when you may be looking for any type of information.
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Geka Wigwam Seniors Lodge Serpent River First Nation P.O. Box 35, 41 Ball Park Road, Culter, Ontario P0P 1B0
Tel.: 705-844-2818 Fax: 705-844-2466
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Question c) Is it hard to learn? Answer: Using the Internet is very simple. It’s as easy as searching through a table of contents of a newspaper (well, maybe a little more difficult). Many easy to learn books are available such as INTERNET FOR DUMMIES. Question d) How much does it cost ? Answer: About the same cost as a TV cable subscription. Many INTERNET providers have rates starting at $9. 95 a month. Choose the package that suits your needs. Should you have an outdated computer, you may need to upgrade y our system. Upgrading your PC may require you to bring in your system to one of it’s authorized service depot’s to have an estimate as to how much your personal upgrade may cost. Note that there is a point where upgrading your PC may be no longer feasible. Upgrading your clunker XT (with all due respect. . .), may be like trying to put in a new motor in your rusted 1963 Ford pickup. In our next article, we’ll discuss the actual cost of upgrading.
Ottawa Waste Management Facility RR3, 2301 Carp Road, Carp, Ontario K0A 1L0
Tel.: 613.831.5363 www.wm.com
Question e) Is it worth my while? Answer: That’s the biggest question of all, because only you know your needs. No doubt that we will all eventually be forced to use some form of INTERNET in our daily lives. As more intelligent and easy to use software applications are available, people who have never even tempted to use any form of technology will be less reluctant in using this form of communication. The bottom line is to assess your present and future needs. You may ask “But how can 1 know my needs when I don’t what I don’t know?. . .”. The secret is to develop a curiosity for the information. Once you’ve developed that curiosity, the information will present itself.
30 ONTARIO POLICE NEWS PUBLICATION
Haven of Rest Ministries Counseling Services 1160 Line 11N, Hawkestone, Ontario L0L 1T0 www.HavenOfRestCounseling.com
General Contracting & Retail Services 2161 Thurston Drive Ottawa, Ontario K1G 6C9
613-746-8580 Fax: 613-746-9930
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his is an open letter to all parents of all young people everywhere. I am writing in response to some of the questions you ask me daily. I am not one police officer, but I represent every officer in every city and town in Canada. You may know me only as the cop who gave you a ticket last summer, but I am also the guy who lives down the street from you. I am the parent of three children and I share with you the same hopes, ambitions and dreams that you have for your children. I am faced with the same problems as you have. I share with you those moments of agony and ecstasy. I share with you the feeling of guilt, shame or disappointment when my boy or girl get into trouble. The scene is a long stretch of highway with a sharp curve at one end. It had been raining and the roads were slick. A car travelling in excess of 126 km/h missed the curve and plowed into an embankment where it became airborne and struck a tree. At this point, two of the three young persons were hurled from the vehicle, one into the roadway, where the car landed on him, snuffing out his life like a discarded cigarette on the asphalt. He is killed instantly and he is the lucky one. The girl thrown into the tree has her neck broken and although she was voted queen of the senior prom, and most likely to succeed, she will now spend the next 60 years in a wheelchair. Unable to do anything else, she will live and relive that terrible moment over again many times. When I arrive, the car has come to rest on its top, the broken wheels have stopped spinning. Smoke and steam pour out of the engine ripped from its mounting by a terrible force. An eerie calm has settled over the scene and it appears deserted except for one
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lone traveller who called it in. He is sick to his stomach, leaning against his car for support. The driver is conscious but in shock and unable to free himself from under the bent steering column. His face will be forever scarred by deep cuts from broken glass and jagged metal. Those cuts will heal, but the ones inside cannot be touched by the surgeon’s scalpel. The third passenger has almost stopped bleeding, the seat and his clothing are covered in blood from an artery cut in his arm by the broken bone that protrudes from his forearm just below the elbow. His breath comes In short gasps as he tries desperately to suck air past his blood-filled airway. He is unable to speak and his eyes, bulged and fixed on me pleadingly, are the only communications that he is terrified and wants my help. I feel a pang of guilt and recognize him as a boy I let off with a warning the other night for an open container of alcohol in his car. Maybe if I had cited him then, he wouldn’t be here now. Who knows? I don’t. He died soundlessly in my arms, his pale blue eyes staring vacantly, as if trying to see into the future he will never have. I remember watching him play basketball and wonder what will happen to the scholarship he will never use. Dully my mind focuses on a loud scream and I Identify it as the girl who was thrown from the vehicle. I race to her with a blanket, but I am afraid to move her. Her head is tilted at an exaggerated angle. She seems unaware of my presence and whimpers for her mother like a little child. In the distance, I can hear the ambulance winding its way through the rainy night. I am filled with incredible grief at the waste of so valuable a resource, our youth.
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KEMIRA CHEMICALS
1380 County Rd. #2, P.O. Box 615, Maitland, Ontario, Canada K0E 1P0 Tel: 613.348.7711 • Fax: 613.348.7700
www.kemira.com
I am sick with anger and frustration with parents and leaders who think that a little bit of alcohol won’t hurt anything. I am filled with contempt for people who propose lowering the drinking age because they will get booze anyway, so why not make it legal. I am frustrated with laws, court rulings and other legal maneuvering that restricts my ability to do my job, preventing this kind of tragedy. The ambulance begins the job of scraping up and removing the dead and injured. I stand by, watching as hot tears mingle with rain and drip off my cheeks. I will spend several hours on reports and several months trying to erase from my memory the details of that night. I will not be alone. The driver will recover and spend the rest of his life trying to forget. I know the memory of this fatal accident will be diluted and mixed with other similar accidents I will be called in to cover. Yes, I am angry, and sick at heart with trying to do my job and being tagged the bad guy. I pray to God that I might never have to face another parent in the night and say your daughter Susan, or your son Bill, has just been killed in a car accident. You ask me, why did this happen? It happened because a young person, stoned out of his mind, thought that he could handle two tons of hurtling death at 128 km/h. It happened because an adult, trying to be a “good guy”, bought or sold to some minor a case of beer. It happened because you as parents weren’t concerned enough about your child to know where he was and what he was doing; and you were unconcerned about minors and alcohol abuse and would rather blame me for harassing them when I was only trying to prevent this kind of tragedy. It happened because, as people say, you believe this kind of thing only happens to someone else. For your sake I hope it doesn’t happen to you, but if you continue to regard alcohol abuse as just part of growing up, then please keep your porch light on because some cold, rainy night, you will find me at your doorstep, staring at my feet with a message of death for you. This article was written by Dale Martel, with Campbell River, B.C. R.C.M.P. Marine Division. Reprinted with permission.
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Richmond Nursery Inc. 3440 Eagleson Road, Box 850, Richmond, Ontario K0A 2Z0
Tel: (613) 838-2282 • Fax: (613) 838-4549 Free online discussion groups www.richmondnursery.com • Corner of Richmond Road & Eagleson Road
2 Cellular, Mobile Radio and Paging Services to all residents of the general area, and Sales and Leasing of Globalstar Satellite Telephones 3 Internet Service to the general area, with High Speed DSL in Dryden, and Dial-up Service in and around our city, as well as High Speed Wireless Internet from Vermilion Bay west of Dryden to Wabigoon to the east on Northwestern Ontario's largest Wireless Internet Network. The Dryden Municipal Telephone System is a full-service public utility telephone company owned by the City of Dryden. Our mandate is to provide efficient and effective, state-of-the-art, nationally connected telecommunications services to our subscribers while maintaining the financial and technical integrity of the system.
Our Business Offices and Retail Telephone Store is located in the City Hall, at 30 Van Horne Avenue, and we are open from 8:30am to 4:30pm, Monday to Friday (except statutory holidays). We can be reached by fax at 807-223-1109 and by phone as follows: • General telephone and Internet service inquiries : 807-223-1100
Profits made by the company are used to keep the company current with new technologies and to reduce the tax burden on the residents of the City of Dryden.
• Cellular and Mobility inquiries : 807-221-1000
We provide:
• Trouble reports for Dial-up, DSL, and Wireless Internet : 807-221-2100
1. Telephone service to the residents and businesses located in West Dryden, i.e., the portion of the City of Dryden that was the Town of Dryden before the amalgamation of the Town of Dryden and the Township of Barclay into the City of Dryden,
• Connections, disconnections and billing inquires : 807-223-1111
• Directory Advertising : 807-223-1115
www.DTMS.biz
I
t’s a scene that law enforcement officers say has been played out repeatedly in communities all across the country. A young person walks into a local pharmacy and holds it up. But instead of asking the cashier to empty the register, the bandit instructs the pharmacist to “Hand over your oxy.” With a stash of small tablets in hand, the perpetrator runs out the door and into a peer culture ready to pay big money - up to $100 a tablet - for the high that comes with using the stolen goods. Welcome to the world of OxyContin, perhaps the fastest-growing drug of choice in today’s youth culture. Originally developed by Germans in 1916, OxyContin was approved by the FDA in 1995 as a 12-hour time-released prescription pain killer for use by those who suffer from chronic pain. Since then, millions of legitimate users have heralded OxyContin as an oral drug that’s allowed them to resume a normal life-style while managing debilitating pain from arthritis, injury, back-ache, or cancer recovery. The popularity of the synthetic opiate (chemically related to heroin, morphine, codeine, fentanyl, and methadone) brought revenues of $1.14 billiaon to the drug’s manufacturer, Purdue Pharma, in 2000. No one knows how much traffickers are making for distributing the drug on the street. Reports are that kids are paying upwards of $1 per milligram for the drug (aka: oxy, oc, killers, and oxycotton) that comes in 10, 20, 40 and 80mg doses. The demand on the street is growing so fast that kids are robbing pharmacies, forging prescriptions, committing health care fraud, and “doctor shopping” (faking pain as they go from doctor to doctor in search of a prescription). The drug has recently been labeled “Hillbilly Heroin,” not only because of the intense high, but because its abuse among youth first appeared in the rural areas of Appalachia and Maine. The growing rates of abuse in those areas paralleled its legitimate use among residents of those blue-collar regions who found the drug to be helpful in calming the chronic pain they felt as a result of working years of manual labor in steel mills and coal mines. An August 2001 raid in remote regions of Kentucky resulted in the arrest of over 200 illicit OxyContin dealers. Today, OxyContin abuse is present everywhere. What is it about OxyContin that’s made it so popular among kids? After crushing or chewing the pills to disable the drug’s time-release coating, kids who snort, swallow, or inject the drug report experiencing a powerful and immediate high. Along with the high comes feelings of intense happiness and euphoria where all the world’s troubles seem to disappear. As with so many other drugs before it, the word about OxyContin is sure to spread among teenagers and its abuse will
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most likely grow. Some will use it as a way to temporarily escape the emotional pain they experience in their lives. Other kids will use it as another avenue to fill their thrill-seeking need for adventure. Some will try it just out of curiosity or as they cave to negative peer pressure. Still others will perceive OxyContin as “safe” since - after all - doctors prescribe it and pharmacies have it in stock. Perhaps the best preventive medicine we can prescribe to stop OxyContin abuse and head off it’s threat in our home is to speak with our teenagers openly about the spiritual, moral, and physical dangers associated with all substance abuse. As for OxyContin specifically, our kids need to know that in the short-term, users are likely to experience constipation, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, headache, drymouth, weakness and even death. In 1999, there were 262 OxyContin-related deaths reported in the U.S. Long-term effects include physical dependence, addiction, and tolerance (the need to use higher doses to achieve the desired results). Experimenting with or abusing OxyContin is dangerous and wrong. The growing abuse of Hillbilly Heroin should remind us of our need to take an active role in the lives of our children and teens by modeling Godly values and praying for them regularly. If you’re doing that now it’s more likely you’ll have substance-free kids who move into healthy adulthood. If you don’t, now is the time to begin. The Center for Parent/Youth Understanding grants permission for this article to be copied in its entirety, provided the copies are distributed free of charge and the copies indicate the source as the Center for Parent/Youth Understanding. For more information on resources to help you understand today’s rapidly changing youth culture, contact the Center for Parent/Youth Understanding. ©2004, The Center for Parent/Youth Understanding
36 ONTARIO POLICE NEWS PUBLICATION
1600 Merivale Road, Nepean, Ontario K2G 5J8
Tel.: 613.723.8017
•
Fax: 613.723.8725
HyHoe • Bulldozer • Backhoe • Truck Rental • Screened Top Soil • Muck Crushed Stone • Sand • Gravel • Water Sewer Connection • Minor Road Work Septic Design & Installation 1632 County Road 12, Crysler, Ontario K0A 1R0
info@provostcartage.ca
Tel.: 613-987-2118 • Fax: 613-987-2134
T
he majority of missing children cases are runaway children and youths. In 1994, there were 40,140 cases of runaways entered on the Canadian police database, CPIC. Fifty five (55%) were repeat runaways whereas, 45% had no previous history or were first time runaways. Since the police enter a child as a new case each time a child runs away, these figures show cases and not individual person counts. Some children runaway more than once generating several case files (Missing Children’s Registry, CPIC data). The trend is consistent over a five year period showing that females are reported as running away more often than males. This may be due to the fact that either more females run away or that parents are more prone to report a female runaway as missing than they are to report males. The total number of 1994 cases of runaway females was 22,935 (57%) and males, 17,205 (43%). There are several reasons why children run away. The most common is family conflict. Children and parents misunderstand each other and have difficulty resolving problems. Marital, sibling fighting and children fighting with parents contribute to an unstable home environment. Poor communication skills and weak parent/ child bonding exacerbate the problem as does, parents or children abusing drugs/alcohol and family members experiencing various degrees of sexual and physical abuse. The percentage of runaways who are sexually and physically abused is inconsistent from one study to the other. However, researchers do report physical and sexual abuse as a cause for running behaviour. Many youths run “to the street� where they link up with other persons with similar problems. Being part of a street family fulfills their sense of belonging. Some find the street too frightening and return home hoping the problems at home have disappeared. In some instances, parents communicate and resolve the family conflict while in others, parents use rehabilitation programs. For this group of youths the running episodes usually cease. On the other hand, those youths who return home and find the same problems exist, soon run again. The running away pattern becomes established as a way of dealing with the pain of the situation.
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Most researchers conclude that youths run away to escape intolerable situations at home. Running is a response to an inability to cope with the stressors originating from home, school, peers and/or the community. The majority of runaway youths have school adjustment problems. Most only finish grade 9 before leaving, being expelled or suspended. Runaways are viewed by teachers as troublesome and exhibiting problem behaviours in and out of school. Although runaway youth are perceived to be rebellious and difficult, they most often suffer from other, more serious psychological and emotional difficulties. The main personality trait identified by researchers is low self-esteem. Children feel a lack of self worth and often express a perception that they let their family down. Internal conflict, psychological problems, poor coping skills and other emotional problems such as, suicidal tendencies, are traits often surfacing when describing runaway children.
38 ONTARIO POLICE NEWS PUBLICATION
The Conference Board of Canada Insights You Can Count On
255 Smyth Road, Ottawa, Ontario K1H 8M7
613-526-3280
www.conferenceboard.ca
GREATER BARRIE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 97 Toronto Street, Barrie, Ontario L4N 1V1
705.721.5000 Fax: 705.721.0973
PETER HUISMANS
Huismans Poultry Farm Ltd. 1789 Huismans Road Navan, Ontario K4B 1H9
(613) 835-2476 • Fax (613) 835-9639 Producer #1918 Grading Station #0-35 HACCP Approved
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Children and youths who runaway from home are more vulnerable to exploitation and delinquent activities. Most have no means of support and lack the training and skills to get a job. Consequently, they become involved in prostitution, drug dealing, the and panhandling for money, food and shelter. Some have a tendency toward self-destructive behaviour. Youths who run away do not travel far from home. Many stay within a 50 to 100 mile radius. This fact is reported in both national and international studies. In summary, runaways often come from homes torn apart by conflict and heightened by marital problems, mental health problems, drugs and physical/sexual abuse. They tend to be extremely unhappy, lonely and lack self-esteem. They do not perform well in school thus, finding school an uncomfortable frustrating experience. Those who mn are more involved in delinquent activities and exposed to exploitation. Many youths repeat the running episode - running soon after the first incident. They usually do not travel far. The further from home they travel, the longer they live on the street, the more they become involved in delinquent activities, the greater their chance of becoming part of the “street” youth population. Considering these facts, community youth services and programs require strengthening. As recently expressed at an international youth conference by the Attorney General of the United States, “We cannot change a nation until we change the situation in each community. It’s up to you!” Studying Runaways and Street Youth in Canada, Research, 1993 The Canadian Street Youth Project, 1993 The Runaway and Street Youth Project: Saskatoon, 1994 The Runaway and Street Youth Project: Ottawa, 1994 Weapons in Schools, 1994 Youth Gangs on Youth Gangs, 1993
For further information contact: Marlene Dalley, Ph.D., Research and Program Developer, Missing Children’s Registry, (613-990-9833)
Other recent references: Solicitor General Canada, Research and Policy 340 Laurier Ave., Ottawa, Ontario. K I A OP8 (613-990-2710)
40 ONTARIO POLICE NEWS PUBLICATION
Supplying & Installing Railings & Interior Trim Circular/Straight Stairs Building Supplies and Sales Ltd.
18 Grenfell Crescent, Nepean, Ontario K2G 0G2
613-225-9587
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A
lcohol has been a part of almost every culture’s rituals for centuries. Today drinking alcohol for relaxation or to enhance social interaction is a widely accepted practice.
The use of alcohol has resulted, however, in devastating consequences for a significant percentage of the population, one of the main consequences being fatal car accidents. The development of alcoholism with its attendant effects on children, spouse and work, continues to cause suffering that affects virtually every Canadian. Alcohol is a drug. This fact alone is essential to understanding problems linked to alcohol. It is considered a drug because its main ingredient, ethanol, acts on the brain as a depressant. At low doses, alcohol may appear to act as a stimulant, but this is because it affects brain areas responsible for the control of inhibitions - as people lose their inhibitions they can become more talkative and seem to have more energy. At high doses, alcohol causes lack of coordination, slurred speech and confusion. At toxic levels, it can result in coma or death. How each person is affected by the depressant effects of alcohol depends on many factors which include age, gender, prior experience with alcohol and the level of tolerance. Tolerance is created with regular use of alcohol and results with more alcohol being needed each time to achieve the same effect. This physical adaptation to alcohol develops slowly over several years (contrary to other abused drugs) and explains why some individuals can consume surprisingly large amounts of alcohol each day. Recognizing the early stages of alcohol problems is made difficult by the fact that many of these problems can be temporary in nature. Heavy drinking on some occasions, family tensions, accidents where alcohol is involved or arguments with friends do not necessarily constitute sure signs of alcohol problems. It is the recurrence of these kinds of problems that constitutes early warning signs of alcoholism. The identification of alcohol problems is made easier if alcohol use is seen as a continuum - from social drinking to the gradual development of a drinking problem which is later on accompanied by serious medical problems.
Hunt Club Volkswagon 2655 Bank Street Ottawa, ON K1T 1N1
613-822-6565
42 ONTARIO POLICE NEWS PUBLICATION
HEAD OFFICE B-1200 Wellington St. Ottawa, Ontario, K1Y 2Z8 Phone: 613-224-9995
GLEBE 862B Bank Street. Ottawa, Ontario, K1S 3W3 Phone: 613-224-9995
BELLS CORNERS 72 Northside Rd Ottawa, Ontario, K2H 5Z6 Phone: 613-224-9995
STITTSVILLE 1300 Stittsville Main Street. Stittsville, Ontario, K2S 1B8 Phone: 613-224-9995
www.PCCYBER.com
SUNNY CRUNCH FOODS LTD. Manufacturers of Nutrition Bars, Sports Nutrition Products, Crunchy Granola Cereals and Bars
200 Shields Court, Markham, Ontario, Canada L3R 9T5
TEL.: (905) 475-0422 FAX: (905) 475-9775 WWW.SUNNYCRUNCH.COM
The following are some of the key hallmarks that denote alcoholism. Being aware of them can help if we suspect a family member or friend of having an alcohol problem (professional help should be sought if the problem is to be addressed satisfactorily). • compulsive and heavy use of alcohol • loss of control over the ability to stop drinking • continued use in spite of adverse consequences on health, family and work Other factors can include: • the use of a morning drink as an eye opener, the desire by, the user to cut down on drinking or the unsatisfactory attempts to do so; • the fact that most leisure activities involve drinking • there is frequent use of alcohol to deal with stress and anxiety. In the later stages of alcoholism severe medical or psychological problems occur.
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Psychological • anxiety and depression • violent denial that there is a problem - this denial is very often based on guilt and shame • defensiveness and annoyance of criticism regarding drinking • blaming others (family, friends or co-workers) for problems that have occurred because of drinking • intellectual impairment - alcohol interfering with the ability to think clearly and realistically Physical • damage to the brain, pancreas and kidneys • high blood pressure, heart attack and strokes • alcoholic hepatitis and cirrhosis of the liver • cancer (stomach, liver, mouth, larynx and esophagus) • impotence and infertility • premature aging • birth defects in children of alcohol abusing mothers
44 ONTARIO POLICE NEWS PUBLICATION
Accounting for your future
Jeffrey N. Miller, CA, CFE, TEP 613-728-5831 EXT 228 CELL: 613-769-8787 287 Richmond Road, Ottawa, ON K1Z 6X4
jnm@ggfl.ca • www.ggfl.ca
Fin & Feather Marina Inc. Machine Shop & Engine Rebuilder Specialist Ontario Diesel Emission Testing Facility
Long Point Bay’s Finest Bass Fishing
Cummins . Volvo . Caterpil er . Navistar . Detroit . Mack . Deutz . John Deer . Ford
Any Major Brands
23 Years Experience • Fully equipped automotive machine shop, competitive rates Every engine gets complete attention from a to z • Will pick up and deliver within 200 km Warranty - within specifications • On site diagnosis/repairs
Trailer Sites • Boat Houses • Open Dockage
613-679-4846
(519) 586-3961
1891, rue Lajoie, Lafaivre, ON K0B 1J0
Top Quality Service One Engine at a Time
1102 Front Rd St Williams, ON N0E 1P0
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Residential • Commercial Installation & Repairs Oil, Natural & Propane Gas In-Floor Heating Systems A/C Installations Pumps & Softeners
CHESTERVILLE, ONTARIO
(613) 448-3659
Family and work • well before other problems may appear, the spouse becomes concerned about heavy drinking • interpersonal problems with spouse and children, including arguments, abuse and broken promises • emotional and behavioral problems of children at home or in school • absenteeism at work or deteriorating job performance. difficult relationships with superiors or co-workers • financial problems When considering that there are well over 500,000 alcoholics in Canada and 2 or 3 times that amount who suffer from the consequences of heavy drinking (family and friends with problems), it becomes clear that this drug alone accounts for more suffering than any other single product used in our society today. It is up to each of us to make sound and intelligent choices with respect to the use of alcohol. Alcoholism is treatable. Total abstinence is the solution. With the help of substance abuse professionals or selfhelp groups and the support of the family, alcoholism can be arrested and the alcoholic can live a joyous and fruitful life without the use of alcohol. As was mentioned in the case of cocaine, it is essential that the family be involved in the recovery process. Children are especially vulnerable to disruptions in the family dynamics as they are to verbal abuse, broken promises or the sense of guilt which they often feel (when they are young), erroneously believing they are the cause of the parent’s alcoholism.
THERRIEN GARAGE
MOTOR VEHICLE INSPECTION STATION
Class “A” Mechanic
R.R. 2, Williamstown, Ontario K0C 2J0
613-347-3374
46 ONTARIO POLICE NEWS PUBLICATION
TECHNO Metal Post 89 Moresby Drive Kanata ON K2M 2J6
613-355-1763
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C
onflict is a fact of life. Whether it’s with our parents, siblings, teachers, friends or strangers - we experience conflict almost every day. It is usually stressful and it can have a negative effect on our mood and how we deal with other people after we’ve been in a conflict. We usually think of conflict as a “bad” thing. It’s something to be avoided (unless we’re sure we can win). But that’s part of the problem! Because we see conflict as a negative thing - we experience it as a negative thing. In ancient China the symbol used to describe “conflict” is the same symbol that is used to describe “opportunity”. How can conflict be the same as opportunity? Because we get into conflicts when we have a different agenda or point of view from someone else. We end up in conflict with each other because we want the other person to change so that our life will be easier, happier, or whatever else we’re looking for. This is where the opportunity is. Conflict creates the opportunity for change and growth. Something positive can happen! How are we supposed to turn what we see as a negative experience into a positive opportunity for growth? The most important thing to do is to keep your “brain” in the driver’s seat and not let your emotions take control. We all have emotional responses to conflict but we can acknowledge those emotions without letting them take over our behaviour. First we need to notice that we are getting emotional and tell ourselves that it’s ok to have those emotions but “I’m not going to let my emotions take over and spoil the opportunity to explore how we can change the situation so that my life can be better”. Second, we should “listen” to what the other person is saying (they may have already let their emotions take over). If we listen carefully for the message in what the other person is saying, and not react to how they’re saying it, we can begin to see what it is they need to get over the conflict. Lot’s of times people show anger and say nasty things when they are really feeling hurt, insecure and unloved. To meet their energy with your own anger only makes the situation worse. If you can be calm, listen to what they’re saying, and let them know that your heard them by saying; “I hear you saying that...”, we will often see that they will begin to calm down. It can make you feel very powerful!
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continued from page 47
Third, you can help them to say what their real interest is - what do they really want? You will probably find that what they really want and what you really want are not in conflict as much as you originally thought. You will probably be able to see options that will allow you both to get most, if not all, of what you want. The two of you can talk about it and “brainstorm” some ideas that will work for each of you. Finally, you can come to an agreement on how to resolve your conflict and you can also agree to try this next time you are “butting heads” with each other. So what do you do if the other person won’t participate. You can still set an example and often they will begin to change, sometimes slowly, because you are not fighting back. You will find that is only very rarely that you meet someone who is so stuck in their anger that they are impossible to deal with. Best to try to avoid those people or find another person who can be a referee (mediator) to help the two of you resolve the problem. You can use this on yourself too! We often have conflicts going on in our heads about whether to do this or do that, and if we notice ourselves going through this pattern we can deliberately slow down, take a deep breath, and ask ourselves what it is that we are really upset about; what is it that we really want? Sometimes we think that we want something because it will make us happy, but when we get it we find that it doesn’t really help. We just start wanting something else and the pattern repeats itself. That usually means that there is something underneath all of the “internal noise” in our head and we need to calm down and reflect on it to see what is really going on. When we think we have figured that out, we can do our own “brainstorming” about what different things might help resolve that internal conflict. It really works! Try it and see.
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Karen’s Kafe 107 Wellington Street West Mount Forest, ON N0G 2L2
519-323-9173
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• The term "gang" is often incorrectly used to describe groups of youths who simply "hang out" together as friends. Friendship groups provide their members with a number of benefits, including the opportunity to socialize, a feeling of acceptance, a sense of identity. Friendship groups can also be a source of status. • Police have found that there are two key factors distinguishing youth gangs from youth groups: the level of group organization and participation in criminal activities. • Youth who join gangs do so in order to meet needs that are not being met by family, schools or the community. • Youth are getting involved in youth gangs at a much younger age, and young females are increasingly involved in gang violence. Girls account for 15 per cent of all charges related to illegal gang activities. • The phenomenon of youth gangs is not limited to particular social, ethnic or class groups, but rather cuts across all socio-economic groups in Canadian society. • Despite perceptions to the contrary, there are a limited number of highly organized youth gangs in Canada. • Researchers have indicated that community protection from youth gangs must be balanced with proactive, "pro-youth" programs aimed at prevention, early intervention and rehabilitation. • Some police departments have established specialized gang units or youth divisions, which both enforce the law and implement prevention and intervention strategies. • Many Canadian students have become involved in schoolbased anti-violence strategies, such as peer mediation. These strategies aim to reduce gang recruitment at school and to provide social alternatives to joining gangs. • Some communities have focused their attention on problem areas or "hot spots" and have developed community teams to direct resources to these areas. • Community-wide responses have also been developed to address the problem of youth gangs. These initiatives involve the participation and cooperation of the youth justice system, the educational system and youth services agencies. A range of strategies are used including the enforcement of the law, intervention, and prevention strategies.
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Addictions and Problem Gambling Services of Ottawa
SANDY HILL COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTRE 221 Nelson Street, Ottawa, ON K1N 1C7
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•
When taken as prescribed, OxyContin is a time-released pain relief medication, lasting up to 12 hours
•
If OxyContin is crushed, then chewed, snorted, or diluted in water and injected, the medication is released much quicker into the body, causing a “high”
•
OxyContin is highly addictive. Over time, your body gets used to the drug, causing you to take more and more to get the same euphoric effect
•
Withdrawal symptoms include restlessness, muscle or bone pain, insomnia, diarrhea, vomiting, cold flashes, and muscle spasms
•
Symptoms of overdose may include severe weakness, extreme drowsiness, shallow breathing, slow heart rate, seizures. and confusion
•
A physician’s prescription is required to obtain OxyContin legally
•
Illegal possession of OxyContin can lead to imprisonment
•
Street names for OxyContin include; Oxy, OC, Oxycotton, Killer, Hillbilly heroin, and Kicker
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Girl: wu Boy: feelin hot 2nite need 2 cu Girl: k wanna c some pics ? Boy: kool Translation Girl: What’s up? Boy: I am feeling hot tonight. I need to see you. Girl: O.K. Do you want to see some pictures? Boy: Cool. What are these teens texting about? What ‘pics’ (pictures) are these teens referring to? These teens are ‘sexting’. Sexting is the term used to describe sending and receiving sexually explicit messages, or nude or seminude photographs or videos electronically (primarily between cell phones, but can occur between any media-sharing device or technology – ie, e-mail or the Internet). Sexting has been a recognized occurrence for several years and is a global practice among teens and young adults. Despite its prevalence, we know very little about this phenomenon. This is partly because technology is changing rapidly, making it difficult to study. A PubMed search revealed that ‘sexting’ is nonexistent in the research literature. In fact, a search for “sexting” on PubMed generated the following result: “Your search for sexting retrieved no results”. In an effort to better understand the practice of sexting, the American National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy, and CosmoGirl. com commissioned a survey (1) of teens and young adults to explore electronic activity. They surveyed 1280 young people – 653 teens (ages 13 to 19 years) and 627 young adults (ages 20 to 26 years) – about sexting during the fall of 2008. This study reported data on teens and young adults separately.
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According to the survey, one in five teens had sent or posted nude or seminude pictures or videos of themselves. Sexually suggestive messages (sent by text, e-mail or instant messaging) were even more prevalent than sexually suggestive images, with 39% of all teens sending or posting sexually suggestive messages and 48% of teens having received such messages. Approximately 71% of teen girls and 67% of teen boys who had sent or posted sexually suggestive content reported that they had sent or posted this content to boyfriends/girlfriends, and 21% of teen girls and 39% of teen boys reported that they had sent material to individuals they wanted to ‘hook up’ with. Fortyfour per cent of teen girls and 36% Teens need to understand of teen boys said that it is common for sexually suggestive text messages, that nothing in cyberspace and nude or seminude photographs to be shared with people other than ever really gets deleted. the intended recipients. Teens admitted that sending or posting sexually Friends, enemies, parents, suggestive content has an impact on behaviour; 22% were more likely teachers, coaches, police, their to use sexually suggestive words and in text messages than in facestrangers, sexual predators images toface communications, 38% admitand potential employers may ted that exchanging sexually suggestive content makes dating or ‘hooking receive or find past postings. up’ with others more likely, and 29% of teens believed that it increases the likelihood that the parties involved will date or ‘hook up’. The most common reason for male and female teens to send sexually suggestive content was that it was regarded as a ‘fun or flirtatious’ activity.
Why might teens be involved in sexting? Adolescence is an important time for the development of identity and independence. This period is characterized by an increased ability to reason abstractly; the development of a sense of perspective, compromise and limit setting; a greater need for privacy; the emergence of sexual feelings and sexual experimentation; and the development of one’s own value system and refinement of moral and sexual values (2). Some experimentation and self-discovery occur through texting or sexting. Texting is a skill that allows teens to be sociable and interact with others, while providing distance from personal contact. Texting provides an electronic medium that allows teens to conceal who they are while expressing themselves and fostering personal relationships that might not otherwise occur face-to-face. For instance, shy, lonely and anxious people tend to find texting to be a less stressful and more comfortable way to express themselves, and an easier way to develop friendships than by a direct encounter (3). Peer pressure and peer expectations may play a role in why teens are sexting. According to the study mentioned above (1), 51% of teen girls felt pressure from teen boys to send ‘sexy’ messages. Further, 23% of teen girls and 24% of teen boys reported that they were pressured by friends to send or post sexual content. Although it can be challenging for teens to resist peer pressure, they should be encouraged not to do anything that makes them feel uncomfortable, even in cyberspace. Teens need to feel empowered to say ‘no’ to any request to send suggestive text, photographs or videos. We still have much to learn about where sexting behaviour comes from.
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The obvious danger associated with sexting is that the material can be easily and widely disseminated. Once the message or image is in cyberspace, the sender loses control over the material and cannot assume that it will remain private (4). Teens need to understand that nothing in cyberspace ever really gets deleted. Friends, enemies, parents, teachers, coaches, police, strangers, sexual predators and potential employers may receive or find past postings. Even if the teen deletes the text or image, it can be copied and sent/ posted elsewhere. Another important issue to consider is that the recipient’s reaction to these messages may not be what the sender had originally intended it to be. For instance, four of 10 teen girls who had sent sexually suggestive content did so as a ‘joke’, and one-third of teen boys believe that girls who send such content are expecting to date or ‘hook up’ in real life (1). There are social, psychological and legal consequences to taking, sending or forwarding sexually suggestive images. Teens need to be aware that they can be arrested, charged and convicted for possessing and distributing child pornography, even when the pornography they are sending is of themselves (5). Unlike other countries, to date, no charges have been laid in connection with sexting in Canada. The bottom line is that nothing is anonymous in cyberspace. In this digital world, parents need to become more knowledgeable about the technologies their children are using. They also need to be aware that many teens are sexting (1). Parents should be encouraged to ask their children, in a developmentally appropriate manner, what they know about sexting. Children and young teens with cell phones may not have heard the term ‘sexting’. Therefore, parents can open discussion with them about sending or receiving pictures of naked kids, teens or adults. Further, parents can teach children that text messages should never contain pictures of kids, teens or adults with their clothes off or kissing or touching each other in a manner that makes the child feel uncomfortable. Regardless of age or developmental stage, it is important to listen to the teen’s understanding of the issues, and then provide accurate and developmentally appropriate information. Parents need to have discussions with their child about safe and responsible online and cell phone activity. Parents need to reinforce that messages or pictures they send on their cell phones or online are not private or anonymous. Parents need to be transparent and explain to their teen that they will monitor online and cell phone activities, including who
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their kids are spending time with online and on the phone. As with other adolescent behaviours, parents should communicate to their teen what they consider to be responsible electronic messaging behaviours. Parents can help teens identify the possible consequences of behaviours, such as sexting, to help them come to their own conclusions about the potential outcomes of their actions. Schools may be another resource to help educate parents, teachers and students about the risks and consequences of their online and cell phone behaviours (4).
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Health care professionals caring for teens should recognize that sexting is a public health issue. Health care professionals need to become better informed about the issue so that they can comfortably include questions about sexting in their teen health visits, and integrate discussions on safe and responsible online and cell phone activity. Using the HEADSS (Home, Education, Activities, Drugs, Sex and Sexuality, and Suicide and mood) interview strategy can help health care professionals to organize their questions so that they can better explore the many issues that relate to sexting (6). Most importantly, health care professionals need to speak with teens and their families about the risks and potential consequences of sexting. Addressing these issues may prevent a teen from finding him- or herself in a compromising position. Technology is here to stay and is evolving rapidly – children and teens will continue to use the current and new technologies. Health care professionals and parents need to develop novel approaches to keeping children digitally safe and responsible while influencing positive behaviours and good judgment in this technologically savvy world. We must do everything possible to prevent teens from making a mistake that could alter their life forever.
References
1. The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy, and CosmoGirl.com. Sex and tech: Results from a survey of teens and young adults. <http://www.thenationalcampaign.org/sextech/PDF/ SexTech_Summary.pdf> (Version current at January 13, 2010). 2. Radzik M, Sherer S, Neinstein LS. Psychosocial development in normal adolescents. In: Neinstein LS, Gordon CM, Katzman DK, Rosen DS, Woods ER, eds. Adolescent Health Care: A Practical Guide. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams and Wilkins, 2007:27-31. 3. Reid DJ, Reid FJ. Text or talk? Social anxiety, loneliness, and divergent preferences for cell phone use. Cyberpsychol Behav 2007;10:424-35. 4. American Academy of Pediatrics. Talking to kids and teens about social media and texting. <http:// www.aap.org/advocacy/releases/ june09socialmedia.htm> (Version current at January 13, 2010).
5. Criminal Code of Canada. 163. Offences tending to corrupt morals. Department of Justice Canada. <http://laws.justice.gc.ca/en/showdoc/ cs/C-46/bo-ga:l_V-gb:s_163/20090706/ en#anchorbo-ga:l_V-gb:s_163> (Version current at January 13, 2010). 6. Norris ML. HEADSS up: Adolescents and the Internet. Paediatr Child Health 2007:12:211-6.
ADOLESCENT HEALTH COMMITTEE Members: Drs Franziska Baltzer, Montreal, Quebec; April Elliott, Calgary, Alberta; Johanne Harvey, Chicoutimi, Quebec; Debra K Katzman, Toronto, Ontario; Stan Lipnowski, Winnipeg, Manitoba (Board representative); Jorge Pinzon, Calgary, Alberta (Chair) Principal author: Dr Debra K Katzman, Toronto, Ontario The recommendations in this statement do not indicate an exclusive course of treatment or procedure to be followed. Variations, taking into account individual circumstances, may be appropriate. All Canadian Paediatric Society position statements/notes are reviewed, revised or retired as needed on a regular basis. For the most current version, please consult the “Position Statements” section of the CPS Web site (www.cps.ca/english/publications/statementsindex.htm). Correspondence: Canadian Paediatric Society, 2305 St Laurent Boulevard, Ottawa, Ontario K1G 4J8. Telephone 613-526-9397, fax 613-526-3332, Web sites www.cps.ca, www.caringforkids.cps.ca Paediatr Child Health Vol 15 No 1 January 2010 ©2010 Canadian Paediatric Society. All rights reserved Source: Canadian Paediatric Society, 2010. Reproduced with permission. For more information on child and youth health and well-being, please visit: www.cps.ca and www.caringforkids.cps.ca
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Russell’s Landscaping For all your landscaping needs Dave Russell • President
Office: 868-1887
Cell: 478-5001 • Fax: 477-7795 70 Ellerslies Crescent, Dartmouth NS B2W 4P3
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FIRE SAFETY AFLOAT EXPLOSIONS or FIRES aboard boats are terrifying experiences. Education is reducing these incidents, even though the boat population has been increasing annually by 15 to 20 per cent. The danger remains ever present requiring the boat owner to be both Skipper and Fire Chief. The majority of explosions occur immediately after boats have been refuelled. With proper precautions, these disasters can be avoided. Familiarity breeds contempt. When refuelling, there is no room for contempt. Gasoline is not the only cause of these incidents. Propane and butane are used extensively aboard cruisers and many runabouts. A hazardous condition can be created because they are heavier than air. Leaks will flow rapidly into the bilge making them difficult to dislodge.
BOAT VENTILATION All vessels with built-in fuel tanks—and this includes many open type outboard powered craft—should have fuel intake pipes firmly attached to tight deck plates with an overflow vent pipe to protrude just below the gunwale. Where two tanks are installed, both must be properly vented. These craft should have a blower to permit fumes to be sucked from the lowest part of the bilge. The golden rule is to run the blower for five minutes before starting
engines at any time and particularly after refuelling. Some craft have a "sniffer" that will register the amount of fumes present.
REFUELLING DRILL Refuelling procedures are simple, but must be understood by the owner and crew. All craft, regardless of size, must be securely moored at the fuel dock. All open flames must be extinguished and all passengers must go ashore. On cruisers, “cuddy cabin” outboard craft and sailcraft, close all hatches and doors. No smoking within 9 metres of boat or pumps. Have a fire extinguisher close by, on the dock, for emergency use. When filling tanks, hold nozzle firmly against fuel pipe and use a grounding cable if available. Do not overfill. Watch overflow vent that indicates a full tank. After fuelling, hose down any spill. Open doors and hatches to thoroughly ventilate boat. Turn on blower and be sure all fumes are clear before starting engines. On open type craft with engines hatchedin, open hatches for ventilation. Use nose test, as natural sniffer, to be sure there are no fumes. Only after craft is fully ventilated and engines running, should passengers be allowed to board. Outboard portable tanks SHOULD NEVER BE REFILLED IN THE BOAT. Take tanks ashore for filling and wipe off any spillage before placing them aboard.
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CHECKING FOR LEAKS
MAINTENANCE
A regular check of the ventilating system is a MUST. Check for leaking fuel lines or fittings, particularly outboard portable tank hose lines. On galley equipped craft particular attention should be given propane and butane lines between tank and stove. Propane and butane tanks should be mounted vertically and must be in the open, with plenty of ventilation and in such a way as to allow any leaking gases to flow overboard. The master
Always keep the bilge clean and free from oil soaked rags or loose tools or equipment that can jump around in rough weather and cause a fire hazard. Check wiring regularly for loose connections and broken insulation. All electrical equipment, such as exhaust blower and bilge pump, must be equipped with explosion-proof motors.
valve at the tank should always be turned off, tightly, when stoves are not in use. A good safety precaution is to turn off the main valve BEFORE turning off the burners so as to allow gas in the lines to be consumed before the stove is shut-off. Conversely, before opening the main valve at the tank, check that the stove valves are closed.
GALLEY STOVES
FIRE EXTINGUISHERS Most pleasure craft are required to carry one or more fire extinguishers located in areas of accessibility. The requirements are spelled-out in the SAFE BOATING GUIDE, available without charge from Transport Canada. All extinguishers required by Small Vessel Regulations shall be of a type approved by: United States Coast Guard for Marine Use Underwriters Laboratories of Canada The British Board of Trade for Marine Use. Board of Steamship Inspection (Transport Canada) It is imperative, for both safety and insurance purposes, that extinguishers be inspected according to the manufacturers' recommendations. This should be done by a qualified person. An inspection tag, indicating date and name of inspector, should be attached to the extinguisher. Become familiar with fire extinguishing techniques by operating them on live fires ashore, under expert supervision.
There are many types of stoves used on pleasure craft. Gasoline type stoves should never be used. Propane and butane safety has been covered in previous paragraphs. The safest for small craft, particularly for outboards and cuddy cabin craft, is alcohol. Stoves must be secured properly to avoid movement when underway. The stove compartment should be protected on three sides by heat resistant materials. This will reduce the risk of fire as well as bodily burns. DO NOT HAVE DRAPES IN STOVE AREA. An extinguisher should always be handy to the galley.
CAUSES OF EXPLOSION Explosions aboard boats are caused, in many cases, by a spark from defective wiring or by lighting a cigarette when liquefied gases are present. The spark, however, that usually ignites a terrifying experience is mechanically created when the starter engages the flywheel ring gear. This is why the engine space must be clear of flammable vapours before starting the engine. IN SUMMARY â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Explosion and fire prevention is sound common sense put into practice. Boat owners MUST be fire conscious for the safety of themselves, their families and guests. Canada Safety Council 1020 Thomas Spratt Place, Ottawa, Canada K1G 5L5 Telephone: 613-739-1535 â&#x20AC;˘ Facsimile: 613-739-1566
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PREPARING YOURSELF Make employee responsibility assignments. If you are ever held up, the confusion after the robber leaves is unbelievable. So, decide now which employees will call the Police, look for the getaway car, lock the doors, detain and separate witnesses, and protect evidence. Do not assume these jobs will be done automatically. Make your assignments NOW! Have some marked money in the register. Record the denomination, serial number and year of several tens or twenties on a piece of paper kept separate from the till. Try to include this marked money with the ones you give to the robber. This may enable the Police to solve your case. Do not keep large amounts of money on hand. Transfer the money from register to safe or bank frequently. A full cash register is an open invitation to armed robbers. Consider installing a hold-up alarm or surveillance camera. This may deter a robbery, and effective systems are a lot cheaper than what could be lost in one armed robbery. Make note of or call the police if you see suspicious persons casing your store. Call and report a suspicious person possibly casing your store. Ask for a Police Officer to stop by your store. Try to note the licence number of the car and description of the persons in case they leave. Report this to our officer or dispatcher when you call.
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IF YOU ARE ROBBED... Remain calm. You will be able to give a better description. Most robbers do not harm the victim. Do not resist. Cooperate with the robber, but do not volunteer to do anything other than what he asks. He may be armed and may harm you or others if you do not cooperate. Give the robber the marked money. Do this if you can, without letting the robber know what you are doing. Note the direction of travel when he leaves. Do this without exposing yourself to harm. Call the Police immediately. Call us before you call your employer. We might be able to catch the robber if you act quickly. Stay on the phone. Preserve the scene for evidence. Do not touch anything the robber may have touched and point these out to Police Officers. We may be able to get fingerprints or other physical evidence. Ask witnesses to remain at the scene. Lock the doors, don’t let anyone in or out, and tell everyone to remain quiet. Have everyone write down what they saw, including the robbers’ descriptions. Do not compare notes, just report what you saw.
SUSPECT DESCRIPTION Complete the description on the following page on your own. Please don’t compare notes or discuss it with others.
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ARMED ROBBERY REPORTING PROMPT FORM WHAT TO SAY TO THE POLICE DISPATCHER: I have just been held up. My location is _______________________________________ _______________________________________ (Write in the name and address of YOUR store.) DO NOT HANG UP! There will be a short pause while the dispatcher transmits the alarm, then you will be asked details.
Direction of travel of the robber is _______________________________________ _______________________________________ eg: East or West on 1st Ave.; North or South on Boundary)
Description of the getaway vehicle (if any) is _______________________________________ _______________________________________ _______________________________________ eg: Blue Ford Sedan, two door, 1973 model, licence number, with dent on right rear fender.
Description of the robber(s) is _______________________________________ _______________________________________ eg: White male adult, about 25 years old, about 5â&#x20AC;&#x2122;8â&#x20AC;? in height, shoulder length brown hair, glasses, red ski parka and blue jeans.
Getting a good description of the robber is very important. Try to notice his height compared to yours, his hairline, his ears, scars, rings or some item which you could remember if a suspect were brought before you shortly after the robbery. Try to notice as much as possible about the robber.
Description of the weapon is _______________________________________ _______________________________________ Try to notice barrel length, barrel color, color of grips, whether a pistol is an automatic or a revolver.
STAY ON THE PHONE!
Contact your police for more information on this or any other crime prevention topic.
Police Emergency No._____________________ Police Non-Emergency No.________________
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to s Howur kid m fro po Hel away o, c y sta tobac and l oho ugs alc er dr oth
Parents need to know... by Diane G. Buhler and Joanne Alcamo Brown Let’s Begin with a Few Facts...
Perhaps a few facts will tell us just how widespread the problem of alcohol and drug use is.
• 28% of students reported smoking (one cigarette or more) in the previous year. • 22% of students smoked one or more cigarettes daily (on average 7 cigarettes a day). • The most common grade in which smokers first used tobacco was grade 7.
Here is a look at some of the latest findings:
Cannabis
Children and teenagers have tough choices to make. As parents we want to help our children make good decisions about alcohol and other drugs.
Alcohol
is the drug most commonly used by youth. Alcohol, including beer, wine and liquor such as rum and rye, is a legal and accepted drug in our society. Advertising makes it look like alcohol is necessary to have a good time. • More than 65% of students reported that they had used alcohol (one drink or more on any occasion) during the past year • 28% of students had five or more drinks on one occasion at least once in the past month.
Tobacco is the second most popular drug used by youth. Even though there have been major campaigns about the dangers of tobacco, smoking among students has not decreased.
is the third most commonly-used drug. You may know it by other names such as marijuana, hash, or hash oil or by street names such as pot, weed, herb or ganja. • Overall, 29% of students reported using cannabis at least once in the past year. • This represents a continuing increase from the 1993 survey where 13% of students reported using cannabis. • 21% of all students reported using cannabis three or more times during the year (on average 15 times a year). The good news is that only a minority (just less than onethird) of students used any type of illegal drug. And about one-quarter of all students used no drug at all (including alcohol or tobacco).
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Tel: (613) 729-4937 Fax: (613) 489-2654 RR #2 North Gower, Ontario K0A 2T0
Tel: (613) 489-3340 Fax: (613) 489-2654
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When do I start talking to my child about drugs? We need to start talking with our children about drugs when they are very young. Drug use is part of everyday life. Sometimes we forget that cough syrup, headache pills and other medications are also drugs. At a very early age, children begin to learn that taking a pill or other drug can make them feel better. They learn this from television and from our own example. There are many opportunities to teach children about the safe use of medications when they are very young. Young children are naturally curious and often ask questions about what they see, including the use of tobacco and alcohol by family members or others around them. We need to encourage their questions and give them direct answers. We also need to think about our attitudes and actions and how these might influence our children.
How likely is my child to use drugs? Our children are very likely to come across tobacco, alcohol and other drugs on the streets, in the school yards, among their peers....and in our homes. They will have to make decisions about their own use of these drugs throughout the adolescent and later teenage years. Chances are that your child ----- like the majority of Ontario teens---- will never even try an illegal drug such as marijuana. Adolescents are more likely to try alcohol and tobacco.
Why should we be concerned about our kidsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; use of tobacco, alcohol or other drugs? As parents we need to realize that many teenagers will experiment with smoking or drinking, with marijuana or another illegal drug --- and then choose never to use these drugs again. For most children, taking some risks is a normal part of growing up. However, we must also recognize that there are serious risks associated with any use of alcohol and other drugs. These risks are there whether it is the first time the drug is used, whether the drug is used rarely or used often.
THESE RISKS INCLUDE: â&#x20AC;˘ Serious physical reaction (for example, slower breathing or increased heart beat);
Ernie Gratto Plumbing & Heating 470 Du Bercail Hawkesbury, ON K0B 1K0
613-632-5383
Concordia Carstar Collision 1575 Cyrville Rd Ottawa, ON K1B 3L7
613-746-9143
74 ONTARIO POLICE NEWS PUBLICATION
DELTA® DELTA® protects property. Saves energy. Creates comfort
Cosella-Dörken Products, Inc. 4655 Delta Way, Beamsville Ontario L0R 1B4 www.cosella-dorken.com info@cosella-dorken.com Phone: 1-905-563-3255 Toll Free: 1-888-4DELTA4 (433-5824)
Dixie Lee Chicken & Seafood 59 Bonnechere St. W. Eganville ON, K0J 1T0
Phone: 613-628-1111
A 4TH GENERATION OF MECHANICAL CONTRACTORS, PLUMBING, HEATING AND VENTILATION COMMERCIAL INSTITUTIONAL AND INDUSTRIAL Full Ventilation Shop Including Autocad Drafting and Plasma Automated System Fabrication 845 Bd de la Carrière Gatineau, QC J8Y 6S5
(819) 777-5854
Chrissy's Bakery 489 Ferguson Avenue Haileyburg ON P0J 1K0
Phone: 705-672-5575
COSELLA-DÖRKEN
• Not knowing how one person’s emotional make-up will respond to the drug at a particular time (one person’s mood response could be quite different from someone else’s and it can change any time the drug is used); • Poor judgement and decision-making (many people, young and old, admit that their actions were careless, stupid or even dangerous when they have used alcohol or another drug). Young people who are new to using tobacco, alcohol or any other drug, can be very sick or frightened the first time they use it. This can sometimes be a good thing, if it helps them decide to never use the drug again! However, some young people find that the use of tobacco, alcohol or another drug satisfies a need they have --- for confidence, dealing with stress or personal problems, friendship or taking risks. Then it is more likely that they will continue to use the drug, at increasing rates, and a whole new set of problems can begin. Furthermore, adolescents who become used to using one type of drug, such as tobacco, are more likely to use another drug, such as alcohol or marijuana.
VANTAGE PUBLISHING GROUP 75
We are concerned that peer pressure, the media, and other factors take over, affecting the decisions our kids make.
LET’S LOOK AT SOME OF THESE FACTORS. Peer Pressure Friendships are very important for children. Some parents, who grew up in an environment where family or neighborhood was their most important influence, may find this difficult to understand.
FRED HILL INSURANCE LTD. P.O. Box 860, Morrisburg ON K0C 1X0
1-613-543-3069
For many children the need to be with and talk to friends peaks in the early teenage years. It is true that kids will do things to fit in with a friend or a peer group. At times it may be hard to accept their hairstyles, clothing, choice of music or the constant (and lengthy!) phone conversations. The adolescent years are a natural time of searching, trying out different styles, looking to "be different" within the safety net of a peer group. It’s part of the normal process of getting to know "who I am". It doesn’t mean that our kids have lost their respect for our family values or their need for our caring and support.
Especially during the adolescent stage of life, when their bodies are developing and they are learning to make decisions for themselves, our kids need to protect themselves from the problems that any drug use can bring.
Families Matter! Families come in many different forms. Families can range from having a single parent to having two sets of mothers and fathers. A parent may live with the child or in another city or even in a distant country. When we use the term "parent" here , we are referring to anyone who is actually providing a child with nurturing and care. This may include a parent, grandparent, aunt/uncle, other important family member or close adult. Whatever your particular family arrangement, it is the family that gives children their sense of belonging. Home is where children look for a safe place to be themselves and the support to grow into responsible adults. Sometimes parents feel that they have very little influence over what will happen to their children. And whatever influence we do have seems to decrease as our children grow older!.
Hair Salon Esthetics Unisex Abboudi Estephan
613-733-1549 • 613-733-9353 1846 Bank Street Ottawa ON K1V 7Y6
76 ONTARIO POLICE NEWS PUBLICATION
G. Kranz
INSURANCE & REAL ESTATE LTD. Fire, Auto, Commercial & Life Insurance
Real Estate and Appraisal Services Box 310, 165 Queen Street Killaloe, Ontario K0J 2A0
613-757-2515
H
2109-B County Road 20 Oxford Station, Ontario K0G 1T0
Tel.: 258-3445 Fax: 258-5935
MASSARO CONSTRUCTION LTD. (General Contractors) All Masonry Work • All Concrete Work • All Carpentry Work House Raising • Cottage Levelling Post & Beam Replacements • Weeping Tile Specialists
“Our Workmanship Guarantees Satisfaction” B. Massaro Tel: (807) 344-8347
VANTAGE PUBLISHING GROUP 77
What can I do?
Someone in my family drinks too much...
• Make a real effort to know and appreciate your children’s friends and make them welcome in your home. • Set your limits about what really matters for your children’s health and safety, and what really counts in your own values --and then give your children some room to be themselves. • Understand that children can go through some very difficult friendship changes that can affect their moods and behaviour at home and at school. • Continue to do regular, enjoyable activities as a family even as your children choose to spend more time with their friends. This will maintain your children’s sense of belonging within the family and give you a relaxed time to discuss what is going on in each family member’s life.
A drinking problem in the family can have serious effects for a child. However, there is strong evidence that having a caring and responsible adult in their lives can be a very important factor in helping children avoid alcohol abuse themselves.
What about"cultural conflicts"? Children who have to balance the culture of home with a different culture at school can find it stressful. When a family is new to the country, even young children may be faced with the responsibility of translating for adults in their family or helping them solve problems in the outside world. Some children may begin to rebel against their culture by choosing friends over family, resenting their heritage or questioning religious customs. Parents have to work hard to help children achieve a balance between family traditions and the pull of the "outside" community.
Someone in my family smokes... Young children have learned about the harmful effects of tobacco. As a result, they may be very concerned about a family member who smokes. They may even put extreme pressure on that person to quit. It is important to acknowledge their concerns about the smoker’s health.
Children need to build a close, trusting relationship with an adult. If a parent is not able to provide this, an uncle or aunt, grandparent, teacher, minister or other close person can help.
BACK TO BASICS Building a healthy self-esteem... Very young children need to feel that they are the centre of their parent’s world. It is this sense of being special that provides the root for self-esteem to grow. As they get older, we need to nurture this sense of personal worth by giving our children the security to challenge themselves and meet new goals. Kids will develop self-confidence when they realize that they have the courage and ability to overcome problems. Let your children know you love them ... just because ... regardless of what they do or how they act. Let them know this "unconditional love" and respect are there, even when you’re angry or disappointed in how they are behaving.
PAD Drug Education & Support Services Phone: (416) 395-4970 Toll free: 1-877-265-9279 e-mail: pad@sympatico.ca Web site: www3.sympatico.ca/pad/
Even if you are the one who smokes you can try to protect your children from the harmful effects of the smoke. Your words and actions can also help protect them from becoming smokers themselves.
JP Uniac Insurance Broker LTD Box 820 Mitchell, Ontario N0K 1N0
519-348-9012 “Best wishes to all Child Find Volunteers & families in Mitchell & Area”
78 ONTARIO POLICE NEWS PUBLICATION
Fleetwood Ground Transportation Service The Choice Of Distinguished Families Executives & Dignitaries Luxury Vans & Mini-Coaches Executive Sedans Established Since 1985
Tel: (613) 745-2727
Fresco Cafe Grill 660 Pembroke Street, East Pembroke, Ontario K8A 3M1
(613) 732-9725
39 Riverside Drive, Kapuskasing, Ontario P5N 1A7
Tel.: (705) 335-2208 Fax: (705) 335-6875
Website: www.northstarlinen.com
ANNUALS • PERENNIALS • TREES & SHRUBS
613-692-3382 2709 River Road, South Manotick www.manotickgardens.com
5131 - 8th Line Road Carlsbad Springs, Ontario K0A 1K0
613-822-4111
tremblayelectric@on.aibn.com ECRA 7000544
VANTAGE PUBLISHING GROUP 79
B
ullying has been defined in many different ways. Dan Owleus defined it as a pattern of repeated aggressive behaviour, with negative intent directed from one to another where there is an imbalance of power. The three key components of bullying are imbalance of power (real or perceived), intent to harm and repeated over time. For example, I might be physically larger than you or I might have more peer status and I use it to hurt others with words or actions.
This involves the use of e-mail, cell phone, pager, text messaging, and/or web site content. This type of bullying is particularly alarming because of the anonymity associated with it. Visit cyberbullying.ca for more information. In 2002, a British survey found that one in four youth aged 11 to 19 years had been threatened via their computer
Some different types of bullying include physical, verbal, social, and cyber bullying. Physical bullying can include hitting, kicking, and destruction of personal property. Verbal bullying can involve thing like constant teasing, making racist or homophobic comments, swearing, etc. Social emotional bullying can include isolating others, manipulating friendships, gossiping, or rumoring. Another form of bullying that has become increasingly concerning is cyber bullying.
or cell phone, including death threats (NCH-National Children Home). Girls and boys bully at approximately the same rate. We also know that early bullying behaviour is linked to later criminality. We know that weapons are very seldom used and that bullying has no financial, cultural or social bounds. The extent and level of bullying within a school community is influenced by other factors such as the types of policies, procedures, and prevention programs a school has in place. Bullying can be devastating, we hear continuously about children killing children or children bullyscide as a result of chronic victimization. We know this is a serious problem that needs to be addressed. But what can we do? Bullying is a complex social issue and it requires a range of strategies and interventions.
80 ONTARIO POLICE NEWS PUBLICATION FIRE & BURGLAR ALARM SYSTEMS
Trailers/Hitches, Automobiles, Tires, Batteries, Propane
Po Box 581 Stn Main Barrie ON, L4M 4V1
1634 Main Street, P.O. Box 73, Stittsville, Ontario K2S 1A2
Phone: 705-726-1801
Office: 613.836.5555
“A caring member of the Community”
Fax: 613.836.4888
J. ENGLAND EXCAVATING
t he
S PA
ADVANCED AESTHETICS AND HAIR DESIGN
RR #2 Sharbot Lake ON K0H 2P0
1-613-279-2946
613.820.7721 E-mail: thespa@rogers.com 27 Robertson Road, Bells Corners Nepean, Ontario K2H 5Y7 www.thespaottawa.ca
K&T
Port-A-John Ltd. Rentals P.O. Box 750 Callandar, Ontario P0H 1H0
(705) 476-5311
As adults, we need to realize that much of bullying occurs without our knowledge. We are relatively unaware of the extent of bullying that exists because children donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t tell and they especially donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t tell adults. We need to break that code of secrecy and encourage our children to tell. Therefore, we need to create a culture that makes it safe to tell. This climate is created when we take their concerns seriously, intervene and follow through appropriately. Our own behaviour has tremendous power. If we reinforce or model aggressive behaviour we increase the probability that our children will model what they see. We also need to improve how we supervise our children, know what they are doing, who they are, and what their friends endorse. At a school level, we need to increase the type and level of supervision and ensure that there are clear and consistent policies and protocols. Schools need to have good communications at all levels with our children, with parents, teachers, community, etc. Give children every opportunity to develop better interpersonal skills, communication skills, problem solving skills and bully prevention skills. Model these skills, teach these skills and give children every chance to practice theses necessary prosocial skills. Create a social context that is supportive, that is inclusive where every child feels valued. We need to create a climate where bullying behaviour is not tolerated, supported, or minimized, where we all take responsibility and action. Western Ottawa is attempting to accomplish this with a comprehensive integrated community approach. The Western Ottawa Community Resource Centre (WOCRC) has a bullying prevention program that brings together the entire community, including parents, police, resource centers, business leaders, school personnel, and most importantly young people. The goal of this program is to reduce the level of physical and emotional aggression within our communities by working in partnership with police, school and community to increase knowledge skills and resources. The key components include the establishment of a committee that engages teachers, parents, administration, students, and the community, extensive training and workshops on the topic of bullying and victimization for the community and ongoing support and evaluation.
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Thanks to a new partnership with MDS Nordion, the WOCRC will be expanding the program to include a preschool, secondary school and a workplace model. Many programs and services offered to our communities are funded by various levels of governments, by foundations or through grants. However, many receive very little funding and rely on fundraising effort in order to continue providing quality services. Thanks to the WOCRCâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s relationship with MDS Nordion, we are able to continue to provide quality services through the Bully Prevention Program to children and youth in our community. This collaborative partnership with MDS Nordion creates stronger community relationships and sets the stage for an enhanced ability for community members to share ideas, identify assets and take positive actions. MDS Nordion is not just a financial partner; this partnership has created opportunities for employees to become involved in their community through the Bully Prevention Program. It is a great way for companies to make a difference in their community. MDS Nordion is truly a community leader in Western Ottawa and with their tremendous support the WOCRC is able to continue to offer this program to over 25 schools in the Ottawa area. The WOCRC Bully Prevention Program has been the recipient of The Phi Delta Kappa Award for Excellence in Education from the University of Ottawa and has been a two-time finalist for the Donnor Foundation Award. This integrated comprehensive community approach involves being preventive and proactive. It involves active participation sharing ownership and responsibility with the entire community. This is just one example of how a community is making a difference.
NAPANEE CAB 136 Palace Rd., Napanee, ON K7R 3B5
1-613-354-6688
82 ONTARIO POLICE NEWS PUBLICATION
Once Upon A Bride for your happily ever after...
540 GARDINERS ROAD KINGSTON, ONTARIO K7M 3X9
613-384-5658
676 Claude Street, Ottawa, Ontario K1K 2R9
Phone: 613-742-7639 Fax: 613-742-5697
264 B Saint-Rédempteur, Gatineau, QC J8X 2T5
Téléphone: 819-772-4236 Télécopieur 819-772-4832 Email: info@paranis.ca
613-283-7444 714 Kilmarnock Road R.R. #2, Jasper, ON K0G 1G0
ogilvieauto@on.aibn.com
T
he techniques used by sexual offenders to access, groom and victimize children through the Internet are rapidly evolving. While increased attention is being devoted to targeting these offenders, the number of sexually-based Internet crimes against children continues to mount. Keeping pace with emerging threats and new technology will present an everincreasing challenge for officers who have far more cases than hours in the day. To assist law enforcement meet this challenge, Cybertip.ca has identified four key emerging trends in child sexual victimization on the Internet to assist law enforcement in its fight against these crimes. In three short years, Canada’s official tipline for reporting Internet-based sexual offences has amassed over 14,000 reports of potential child sexual abuse. Cybertip.ca has emerged as a valuable resource for law enforcement on the latest trends and techniques in the victimization of children using the Internet. “These offenders are very sophisticated in the ways they use the Internet to identify, lure, control, threaten and victimize children,” said Signy Arnason, Director of Cybertip.ca, whose staff keeps a close eye on emerging trends through reports filed with the tipline. “Through tips from the public we can identify and track the ways sexual predators are using the Internet to abuse children.” Consider that in the traditionally “slow” month of December, Cybertip. ca received and reviewed more than 750 reports of Internet-based sexual offences against children. The sheer volume of reports that the tipline deals with every day, the detailed databases they maintain, and it’s network of other tiplines around the world, has positioned Cybertip.ca
as a trusted resource in Canada to advise on trends of victimization and safety strategies to protect children.
Emerging Trends
Offenders are becoming increasingly savvy in the methods they use to access and abuse children and also in the ways they cover their “virtual” tracks to avoid detection and apprehension.
TREND: Targeting Sites Catering to Children Offenders have become very adept at targeting children and manipulating children’s natural desire to develop relationships. A prime target of offenders has become “social networking sites” a rather officious “techie” name for sites that encourage children to connect with others around the world. On the surface it seems innocent enough, and for many children it is. However, upon closer inspection, the potential for victimization is ‘virtually’ limitless. While social networking sites have been active for years, it has been in the last year that Cybertip.ca has recorded a sharp spike in reports of child exploitation and attempted exploitation linked to these sites. Canadian teenagers and “tweens” regularly access social networking sites where, within a matter of minutes, they can create and post profiles complete with uploaded pictures of themselves, usually at no cost and without parental knowledge or consent. As part of this online community they are encouraged to collect “friends” who they link to in their profiles. To do so, they chat and exchange pictures and personal information with people they only know by a photo, a nickname and some online banter.
Martin’s Garage Ltd.
John Howard Society of Ottawa Carleton
47 Northside Dr. St. Jacobs, ON N0B 2N0
550 Old St. Patrick Street, Ottawa, ON K1N 5L5
519-664-2281
1-613-789-7418
84 ONTARIO POLICE NEWS PUBLICATION
P.O.Box 20115 Woodstock, ON, N4S 8X8
519-537-8355 • 519-532-9035
Westminster Mechanical Division of 259740 Ontario Ltd.
1 Russell St. W./1 rue Russell O. Smiths Falls, Ontario K7A 1N8
Tel: (877) 284-0776
RR#1, 45288 Ferguson Line Belmont, Ontario N0L 1B0
Plumbing • Heating • Gas Piping
519-455-9460
westmech@amtelecom.net
Building Cleaning
Free Estimates 2069 Saunderson Drive, Ottawa, Ontario K1G 2E5
613-239-4393
Cellular: 613-762-8302 • Fax: 613-722-2850
michelmoujaes@powercleaninc.ca
Web: www.ontariotruss.com Email: otinfo@ontariotruss.com 732 Ashley Street Foxboro, Ontario K0K 2B0
Telephone: (613) 966-8137 Fax: (613) 966-2785 Toll Free: 1-800-461-6898
VANTAGE PUBLISHING GROUP 85
The sheer scope of these sites defies an equivalent preInternet comparison. At the most simplistic, it’s like having 130 million (the number of members identified for one popular social networking site) instant pen pals who have access to your “profile,” your picture and your thoughts posted on your personal blog. Chances are if parents know about this activity, they are unaware of the potential dangers of what might at first glance appear to be their child benefiting from the unlimited possibilities of the World Wide Web.
Public opinion polls of adult Canadians clearly show that the majority of parents are not taking the necessary steps to adequately protect their children.
While these sites are rife with cyber-bullying and cases of children impersonating other children or teachers and posting embarrassing pictures and defamatory content, far more disturbing is the fact that child-focused sites provide sexual offenders with an almost unlimited source of potential child victims. Even if a child does not post personal information or pictures in their profile, little effort is required to determine if a profile belongs to a child.
Adolescents are particularly vulnerable to potential abuse because risk-taking is a key characteristic of this stage of development as they pursue their need for independence, identity, and intimacy. Children may encounter situations that are beyond their capacity to address and getting in over ones head with a seasoned sexual predator is definitely a parent’s nightmare. Children at this age require boundaries to their Internet activities including limiting the sites they visit and the time they spend online, to help reduce risk of victimization. However, public opinion polls of adult Canadians clearly show that the majority of parents are not taking the necessary steps to adequately protect their children. Although many of these sites provide members with an opportunity
to report questionable behaviour, too many offenders and victims are flying under the radar screen. Given the growing popularity of these sites, the lack of monitoring within the sites by parents, it is expected that social networking sites will figure prominently in future Internetrelated sexual abuse cases.
TREND: HIJACKING INSTANT MESSAGING ACCOUNTS Equally as popular with children is instant messaging, which poses yet another potential opportunity for offenders to target young people. Over the last year, reports to Cybertip. ca of offenders high-jacking children’s instant messaging accounts have doubled. Once the account is high-jacked, the child is coerced into sending sexually explicit pictures of themselves with the promise of regaining control of their account. An offender can take control of a child’s account by guessing a weak password or using a more elaborate scheme involving setting up a fake website and tricking the child into giving up their credentials. After gaining control, the offender prays on the child’s shame and fear of their parents or peers finding out what has occurred. More often than not, complying with the initial demand escalates demands which may include threats to post or distribute the pictures. To add to the problem, once the offender has control of the account, he/she has access to the child’s contact list, risking more victims. Cybertip.ca Case: A 13 year old girl tries to log on to her MSN messenger account, only to discover that her password is no longer working. Her friends tell her that they are receiving instant messages and emails from her account. At the same time, she is contacted by the offender and told that she will get her account details back after she exposes herself on her webcam. The parent reports the incident to Cybertip.ca and is advised to abandon the old account and create a new one.
1626 Main Street, Stittsville, Ontario K2S 1A3 • Tel: 613-831-1106 591 March Road, Kanata, Ontario K2K 2M5 • Tel: 613-591-1912 471 Hazeldean Road, Kanata, Ontario K2L 4B8 • Tel: 613-836-9232
86 ONTARIO POLICE NEWS PUBLICATION
MAÇONNERIE R. MC COWAN MASONRY INC. Brick Works Bricks-Blocks-Stones 3741 Indian Creek Road Cheney, Ontario K0A 2A0
613-487-3889
VANTAGE PUBLISHING GROUP 87
TREND: REMOTE ACCESS TROJANS One of the most disturbing trends Cybertip. ca is seeing is the use of remote access Trojans to invade not only a person’s computer, but also their privacy, without leaving a trace. Trojans are viruses used to gain control of a person’s computer without their knowledge. If a webcam is attached to the infected computer, the offender can easily capture everything that goes on within the camera’s view. Turning off the webcam may be of little protection as some trojans can turn on a webcam that is connected to a computer but not in use. Webcams have become a common fixture in the lives of teenagers making the potential for abuse is staggering; with the victim unaware that they may be streaming live video from their bedroom to a world wide web of people.
TREND: COVERINGTHEIR TRACKS A variety of tools are used by Cybertip.ca and law enforcement to trace and identify those who use the Internet to sexually exploit children. However, increasingly offenders are using programs to protect their anonymity and bypass filters making the relatively simple task of tracking someone into a virtual impossibility. Some programs enable a person to hide their identity by placing them into a virtual crowd, meaning that an Internet Provider address that appears to be located in Canada, could actually be someone from France. Other programs bypass web filtering software by using a host computer on an unfiltered network. Arnason notes that while there are no simple solutions to these emerging threats, “We all need to work together: Cybertip.ca, law enforcement, Internet Service Providers and Government. Collectively, we all have a responsibility for the safety of children.”
PROGRESS Important progress is being made right here in Canada in the fight against online child sexual abuse. The progress is occurring on the two main fronts of better understanding Internet child sexual exploitation and combating the victimization through collaborative efforts. Cybertip.ca reports have resulted in law enforcement making 27 arrests, with 2,000 websites shutdown. The data from Cybertip. ca reports is scrupulously catalogued and stored with the information available on request to police officers to assist in their investigations. The data is national in scope and includes feedback from law enforcement, parents, victims and educators. Never before has this information been captured or made available in Canada to help understand and combat these crimes.
In addition, recently through the Canadian Coalition Against Internet Child Exploitation (CCAICE), Cybertip.ca teamed up with Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to implement a system to combat the distribution of child pornography and prevent Canadians from accessing child pornography while surfing the web. Dubbed Project Cleanfeed Canada, participating ISPs have installed sophisticated filters that will deny access to websites hosting child pornography, as identified by Cybertip.ca. Of the collaborative effort Arnason notes that “The Internet is such a powerful tool for children to learn, communicate, explore and excel. Working with our partners to make it a place where children can feel safe continues to be our commitment and our goal.” Police investigation techniques have evolved to keep pace with the evolution of the criminal mind. As law enforcement professionals look to the challenges of the future, information technology, and in particular the Internet, will play a greater role in the commission of a wide variety of criminal activity including sexual offences committed against children. Apprehending these offenders will require not only the specialized knowledge, diligence and commitment law enforcement traditionally brings to its investigations; police officers will also need to be fully aware of the sophisticated techniques perpetrators are employing to lure, coerce, threaten and exploit children. Cybertip.ca will play a critical role in assisting police to identify trends, and assist in the protection of children.
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C
ontrary to the views of many, HIV is still a major concern right here in our country. The epidemic is not slowing down. There are still around 5000 new infections each year. 60,000 people are infected. Of those, about 20,000 are unaware of their infection and are possibly continuing on with risky activities that are transmitting the virus to others. HIV is very smart. It enters our bodies and can remain silent for over a decade, while inside our bodies our immune systems are being destroyed. It isn’t until our immune systems are very weak that we begin to show major symptoms. In many Canadians’ minds, HIV is still a disease of gay men and injection drug users. This myth was firmly rooted at the beginning of the epidemic when HIV/AIDS was first seen mostly among gay men and injection drug users and the public’s fear and hate were focussed on these two already marginalized communities. It was easier to say, “Well, I’m not gay and I don’t use drugs, so I have nothing to worry about.” Times have changed, and so has the epidemic in Canada. In the early 1980s, gay men accounted for the vast majority of new infections with rates among injection drug users clearly on the rise. With the queer community’s mobilization on the issue (in the face of
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government inaction and criminal silence) the rates among gay men began to drop. With the introduction of harm reduction as a tenet of the federal government’s policy on HIV, we also saw a decrease in the number of new infections among injection drug users – proof that harm reduction is an essential tool in the battle against HIV. In the early years of the epidemic women accounted for a small percentage of new infections. From that point, the rates of new infections among women have risen steadily and continue to do so – the only population to have had an almost constant trend upward. Women are one of the fastest growing at-risk populations for HIV in Canada and around the world. As we have seen throughout the world, HIV travels along lines of marginalization. Women, now account for over 50% of new infections globally. In Canada, women have overtaken injection drug users and now account for about 30% of new infections each year in Canada --- injection drug users now account for about 18% of new infections each year. This is a major shift – and nothing is being done about it. Most people don’t even know. But we have learned throughout history that our ignorance will not save us, only action has that power.
90 ONTARIO POLICE NEWS PUBLICATION The focus of this paper is to briefly address the issues that are affecting Canadian youth and putting them at increased risk for HIV infection and some ideas about solutions. A lack of even basic knowledge about HIV among Canada’s youth combined with the fuel of homophobia and sexism, combined with the obvious risky activity occurring (we have high rates of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) among our youth in comparison with similar countries) and we begin to see the perfect niche environment for HIV to enter, exploit and ravage. But with this recognition, and with subsequent action, we can prevent this from becoming an issue. In 1989, the Canadian Youth and AIDS study was conducted. After that, no other major study looked at the HIV/AIDS knowledge level among our youth. It wasn’t until the Council of Ministers of Education, Canada with funding from Health Canada undertook the Canadian Youth, Sexual Health, and HIV/AIDS Study (CYSHHAS) that we got a better look at the sexual practices, sexual health, and knowledge levels surrounding these issues with a focus on HIV. It was a very sobering report as far as the knowledge level of HIV among youth. It found that, among other things, students today know less about HIV/AIDS than the students who took part in the 1989 study: In relation to education, it is very alarming that 27% of Grade 7 and 14% of Grade 9 and 11 students had not received any instruction about HIV/AIDS over the last two years. Equally disturbing is that 17% of Grade 7 students, 8% of Grade 9 students, and 11% of Grade 11 students reported that they had not received any instruction about human sexuality/puberty/birth control over the past two years …less than half, or 40%, of the Grade 9 students and slightly more than half, or 53%, of the Grade 11 students knew that Vaseline is not a good lubricant to use with condoms…. equally worrisome is that some students had the misconception that there is a vaccine available to prevent HIV/AIDS, and approximately 66% of Grade 7 students and 50% of Grade 9 students did not know that there is no cure for HIV/AIDS. It is distressing that students who participated in this study have generally lower levels of knowledge than do those who took part in the 1989 study. (Canadian Youth Sexual Health and HIV/AIDS Study, 2003) These disturbing findings show the need for an overhaul of the way in which we teach (or don’t teach) sexual health education to students. Students have a right to this knowledge; this power to protect themselves. It is our responsibility to provide them with it. Across the country there is serious discord between HIV/AIDS curriculum. We need to provide training to our teachers (starting in Teacher’s College) on how to talk about these sensitive issues in every class from health to math and from French to shop class. They can be a challenge to address and many teachers are uncomfortable talking about the issue, afraid they don’t know enough about it, and afraid of parental reactions. HIV is a major public health concern that rises above all of that and our students not only have a need to know – they have a right to know. They are vulnerable and at risk. We have the obligation to teach them.
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But when a person presents with symptomatic HIV infection at age 25, 30, or even 35 --- it means they were most likely infected when they were teenagers/young adults. That is the aspect of HIV that most people seem to forget --- there can be a very long span of time between infection and symptoms. While in absolute numbers HIV infection among teenagers is low, a quick look at STI and pregnancy rates among our youth and we get an idea of the risk environment that exists. If our youth are getting pregnant (unintentionally) and acquiring relatively high numbers of STIs, it means two things: they are having sex and they are not using condoms. This is the exact niche that HIV thrives on. It is only a matter of time before HIV begins to monopolise the situation our youth – and by extension, we – are providing.
Gay and bisexual men still account for an unacceptably high number of new infections each year (40-45%). While this number has dropped from the early 1980’s it’s still too high. Why is that? One word: homophobia. Homophobia is so pervasive in our society, despite many people believing it’s a non-issue. Growing up queer and carrying that secret can be more than some kids can handle. Listening to their families, preachers, friends, teachers, and politicians make jokes, laugh, ignore, belittle, suppress, and make our lives invisible can be overwhelming. Queer youth internalize those messages and begin to believe them. Self-esteem crashes, fear and isolation take over, the normal socialization process that takes place in highschool for heterosexuals does not usually occur, and as a result, queer youth can have a warped idea of what it means to be queer. With little to no self-esteem, self-care is not a major priority. AIDS is seen in the minds of some queer youth (as a result of the messaging they received by society) as an inevitability. The rates of drug and alcohol use, the drop out rate, the homelessness rate, the suicide rate, and the rate of experienced violence are all higher than their straight peers. Until recently, the idea of two men/women getting married was not even on the radar of future possibilities --- why would it be, marriage wasn’t an option or a part of their envisioned future because it was illegal. Try and wrap your mind around that. It is very disturbing. Homophobia is still an issue. Times are changing. Youth are coming out to their first person at an average age of 16. Schools need to fulfill their obligation to nurture the healthy development of all of their students – gay or straight – and recognize that both are equally important. Queer youth need to learn about their history – their people – to begin to get a sense of their place in the world, the contributions they have made, the injustices they have faced, and with that gain a sense of pride (one of the most important developmental steps) and the realization that the injustices they do face are just that: unjust. Straight students need to learn this too – they need a reason not to hate their peers. An understanding of history and the contributions of the world’s sexual minorities, and their existence on Earth from the very beginning can help to do that. If the goal is to reduce the rates of HIV among gay and bisexual men, the best way to accomplish that, in the long term, is to step up and begin to raise and nurture the development of both queer and straight youth. By providing this nurturance, education, guidance, and protection, we can give them the tools, the facts, and the support and compassion that will not only help them make the best choices in life, but give them the tools and the sense of self-love to do just that. Some people may counter by saying that the rates of HIV among youth are not all that high in Canada. And, technically, they would be right.
It is imperative that we radically improve our current educational efforts on the topics of condoms, safer sex, relationship negotiations, and self esteem to help reduce this trend. We need to provide medical and psychological care for those who may currently have STIs. With a current STI, a person is at a greatly increased risk for acquiring HIV. If we can increase our public health efforts on this front, we can provide one more piece to the prevention puzzle. We have become complacent in the face of HIV in Canada and have been focussing on AIDS in other parts of the world. And, yes, in more ways than one we need to increase global awareness and provide help and support to those areas of the world that are being destroyed by AIDS. But, we cannot forget to keep an eye on our own backyard and to make sure that we are taking care of ourselves and our youth. We can start by simply talking about HIV in a Canadian context with everyone we know – family, friends, students, and strangers on the street : we absolutely must raise the level of awareness. We can also invite speakers in from agencies specializing in HIV to talk to our social groups, church groups, students, about HIV, the facts, the realities, and the horrors of this disease. We need to make sure our youth know how to put a condom on correctly so that it won’t fail. HIV prevention is not rocket science. We encourage people who inject drugs to stop, and if they can’t we provide them with clean needles and equipment to prevent them from being infected and from infecting others. We encourage people to limit the numbers of sexual partners and, either enter into a single monogamous relationship for life, or we provide condoms for them to use every time they have sex. It sounds easy because it is. We just need to start doing it. HIV isn’t waiting on us. By B.J. Caldwell - HIV/AIDS Education Prevention Outreach Worker AIDS Committee of Guelph & Wellington County
A
lmost every Legion branch in Canada is involved in youth programs such as sponsoring a local sports team, a cadet corps or a scout troop. It may be youth leadership training, the Poster and Literary Contest or many other programs that meet the needs of youth in the community. The Legion’s annual spending on youth exceeds $3.3 million and the donation of over 283,000 volunteer hours.
REMEMBRANCE The Legion wants our youth to know that the freedoms they enjoy did not come without a price. The annual Remembrance Poster and Literary Contest challenges our youth to think about the sacrifices made by those who gave their lives to preserve our freedom. Our biennial Youth Pilgrimage of Remembrance to European battlefields, cemeteries and memorials perpetuates Remembrance. In addition the Legion takes part each year in hundreds of Remembrance ceremonies at schools in every province and territory.
EDUCATION The Legion, through its branches, supports the Historica-Dominion Institute’s “Encounters With Canada” program that brings students from across Canada to Ottawa for studies on Canada. Legion provincial commands and branches also provide bursaries and scholarships for those in university or graduating from high school. Funds are also provided to schools to purchase learning aids for the disabled.
LEADERSHIP The Legion supports the cadet movement in Canada to promote leadership, fitness and the spirit of patriotism by sponsoring hundreds of cadet corps, and scouting or guiding organizations across the country. Many units participate in the Legion’s Biathlon Program in which competitions combining cross-country skiing and marksmanship are conducted in conjunction with Biathlon Canada. The Legion provides leadership and facilities; spends thousands of dollars on bursaries and scholarships; conducts poster, literary and public speaking contests and sponsors the RCL Legion Cadet Medal of Excellence which many branches provide to honour outstanding cadets.
SPORT The Legion Canadian Youth Championships for youth between the ages of 12 and 17 plays a major part in our support for youth. The aim of the program is to promote physical fitness, encourage participation, assist in the development of leadership and nurture the achievement of the best personal performance through clinics conducted by Athletics Canada. The championships also encourage the fostering of friendships, awareness of The Royal Canadian Legion and promote national unity by experiencing different Canadian cultures. The participants are reminded of the sacrifices that have allowed events such as this to take place, and is encapsulated by the oath under which they participate:
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ON BEHALF OF ALL ATHLETES ASSEMBLED HERE WE PROMISE WE WILL TAKE PART IN THE LEGION NATIONALS IN A SPIRIT OF PURE COMPETITION AND FAIR PLAY, FOR THE HONOUR OF OUR COUNTRY, FOR THE GLORY OF SPORT AND IN REMEMBRANCE OF THOSE WHOSE SACRIFICES HAVE MADE THIS POSSIBLE. The Royal Canadian Legion first got involved in community service in the 1940s when it launched the “Foster Fathers” program to help boys left fatherless by World War II. Legion leaders recognized the opportunity that existed for veterans to develop leadership qualities among youth, and community sport was the way this could be achieved. In 1956 the Legion threw its support behind a program which brought athletes and coaches together at the Canadian National Exhibition facilities in Toronto to train for track and field events. In 1957, the Legion took on financial support of the plan which has since become Canada’s only national championship meet and training camp for 12 to 17 year-olds. The program, highlighted by the annual Legion National Track and Field Championships and training sessions, has been described by national and provincial associations as one of the best meets in the country. About 400 young Canadians, coaches and chaperones attend the weeklong event which has been held at locations across the country since 1976. In 2008, the event become the official first sanctioned Canadian Youth Track and Field Championships for Canadian kids in the 17 and under age group through the Legion’s close partnership with Athletics Canada. About 90 volunteers run the competition while Athletics Canada qualified professionals conduct clinics after the meet. Athletes receive the finest coaching available! More than 500 Legion branches participate in and coordinate the Legion National Track and Field Championships. Athletes progress through local and provincial competitions to qualify for the event where Canada’s best young athletes compete and train. Many have gone on to compete and win at World and Olympic Championships. One-third of the Canadian track and field athletes and all Canadian medal winners at the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles were alumni of the Legion’s track and field camps (now known as The Legion National Track and Field Championships) and many other Canadian athletes, including Wayne Gretzky, participated in sports programs sponsored by the Legion. The Legion finances the entire event from renting the required facilities to arranging transport, food and accommodations for approximately 400 Legion athletes, coaches and chaperones from across the country. Estimates place the total Legion commitment to track and field activities at well over $2 million annually. Since 2008, additional athletes in the 17 and under age group register for the competition independently. These
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top athletes number in the 300 range. New for 2010 the 15 and under age group (midget) will be open as well with an expected participation of an additional 300-400 athletes and coaches. REMEMBRANCE POSTER AND LITERARY CONTEST For over 50 years, The Royal Canadian Legion has sponsored the Annual Poster and Literary Contest that is open to all Canadian school children. The youths that participate in the contest assist the Legion in one of our primary goals – fostering the tradition of Remembrance amongst Canadians. The Poster Contest has two divisions — Colour and Black & White. The winning entries for the four categories (school grades) and the senior winning entries in the essay and poetry contests are displayed at the Canadian War Museum from 1 July to 1 May of the following year. The second place poster winners and any receiving an Honourable Mention are displayed in the foyer of the House of Commons during the annual Remembrance period in November. The Legion also sponsors a trip to Ottawa for the Senior Winners in the four contests (two poster, essay and poetry) to attend the National Remembrance Day Service where they place a wreath on behalf of the Youth of Canada. They also have an opportunity to meet and visit with the Governor General.
YOU CAN HELP SUPPORT THE LEGION BY BECOMING A MEMBER! If you are a Canadian Citizen, Commonwealth subject or citizen of an Allied country you can join! You do not have to be a serving or former member of the Canadian Forces. With your membership you will belong to a group that cares about:
• • • • • • • •
Canada’s veterans and seniors Fostering Remembrance as a national ideal Your local community Expanding skills and talents in a wide range of areas Developing leadership skills Comradeship and recreation Access to discounted products/goods and services through cooperating companies Receive LEGION Magazine For more information on becoming a member, visit us at www.legion.ca
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elf-inflicted harm takes far more lives than traffic crashes in this country. The Canada Safety Council says it’s time for action.
Ottawa - Over the 1990's traffic fatalities decreased, but suicides were on the rise. Since 1992, the number of suicides has been greater than the number of road fatalities. In 1999 there were 37 percent more suicides than traffic deaths. Over 4,000 Canadians took their own lives that year.
Mental health conditions, sometimes very well-hidden, are usually a factor. Over 90 per cent of suicide victims have a psychiatric illness, most often depression, at the time of their death – in many cases undiagnosed and thus untreated. One in 10 people living with schizophrenia dies by suicide.
Alarming though these statistics are, they may be low, says Emile Therien, president of the Canada Safety Council, "We simply do not know how many deaths in single-vehicle crashes, railway trespassing incidents and other so-called ‘accidents’ are intentional."
The mental health community must provide treatment, public education, and strategies to help at-risk individuals, but according to Therien, safety measures and policies also play an important role. Most suicidal individuals can be helped, and go on to lead rewarding and meaningful lives, he says. That makes it critical to prevent access to anything they could for self-harm.
Prevention Strategies Suicides are not sudden and unpredictable. They are rarely the result of a single painful experience or loss. About 80 per cent of victims give signals that they are suicidal before taking their own life, although few make a direct plea for help.
He cites statistics that show the proportion of completed suicides is highest with a firearm (92 per cent). A home where there are firearms is five times more likely to be the scene of a suicide than a home without a gun. Guns aren’t the only means of self-harm that are of concern to the Canada Safety Council.
98 ONTARIO POLICE NEWS PUBLICATION • Self-inflicted poisoning, mostly among women in their 20's to 40's involves tranquilizers, analgesics, anti-depressants and other psychotropic medications. Physicians and pharmacists must keep a close eye on such prescriptions. • The combination of mood disorders and substance abuse greatly heightens the risk of suicide. This reinforces the need for preventive policies with respect to alcohol, illegal drugs and prescription medications. • The media have a powerful influence. They can educate the public about suicide –or they can provoke copycat suicides. If a suicide is covered, reporting must be responsible and sensitive.
Guns in the Home Nearly 80 percent of all firearms deaths in Canada are suicides. Nearly 20 per cent of all people who kill themselves use a gun. Some say that in the absence of a firearm, a suicidal person will seek out another method, but research indicates that is not so.
In Canada, suicide is the leading cause of death for men aged 25 to 29 and 40 to 44, and for women aged 30 to 34. It is the second leading cause of death among youth aged 15 to 24. For each completed suicide there are 100 attempts and over 23,000 Canadians are hospitalized each year for a suicide attempt.
A Quebec study led by Dr. Robert Simon examined whether suicide rates were related to gun ownership rates. It found that where hunting for sport is common and firearms are more readily available, the firearm suicide is higher than in urban areas. Moreover, as the firearm related suicide rate increased, so did the overall death rate by suicide. The researchers concluded that if a suicidal person does not have access to a firearm, there is no evidence that another method will be used, at least not one as lethal as a firearm.
Government Commitment Needed Therien points out that Canada has a national road safety strategy, and it’s working. Traffic deaths are declining despite higher numbers of drivers and vehicles. He says many developed countries have suicide prevention strategies, and Canada desperately needs one. The Canadian Association for Suicide Prevention is working on a blueprint for such a strategy. However, to date the Canadian government has not made the necessary commitment to address this silent tragedy.
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Think About It Knowing about a burglar’s three worst enemies -- light, time and noise -- can help you protect your home from crime. A burglar won’t find your home an “easy mark” if he’s forced to work in the light, if he has to take a lot of time breaking in, and if he can’t work quietly.
“Case” Your Place Take the time to “case” your house or apartment, just as a burglar would. Here are a few questions to get you started: Where is the easiest entry? How can you make it more burglar resistant? Trim trees and shrubs near your doors and windows, and think carefully before installing a high, wooden fence around your back yard. High fences and shrubbery can add to your privacy, but privacy is a burglar’s asset. Consider trading a little extra privacy for a bit of added security. Force any would-be burglar to confront a real enemy -- light. Exterior lights, mounted out of easy reach, can reduce the darkness a burglar finds comforting. How can you slow burglars down? Time is a burglar’s enemy, too. A burglar delayed for four or five minutes is apt to give up and try for another, less difficult location. Simple security devices -- including such ordinary equipment as nails, screws, padlocks, door and window locks, grates, bars and bolts -- can discourage intruders and keep them from entering. How about noise? Try to make the general prospect of robbing your home a noisy job. Noise is that important third enemy of the burglar. Many types of alarm systems are available, with detectors to be mounted on doors and windows. Deciding just how much home protection you need -- and can afford -- is a personal judgment. Ask your police department or sheriff to have someone survey your home and advise you about suitable protection. Are any of your valuables - such as a painting, a silver collection or an antique chair-easy to see from outside? Rearranging your furnishings might be advisable if it serves to make your homeless inviting to criminals! Incidentally, should you ever need to report a burglary or file an insurance claim, a household inventory - a listing of your furniture and major personal belongings - could be a valuable document.
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Consider Some Specifics Reducing the risk of break-ins is simply a matter of making your home less inviting to burglars than other homes in the neighborhood. It’s up to you. Doors. Outside doors should be metal or solid hardwood, and at least 1 3/4 inches thick. Frames must be made of equally strong material, and each door must fit its frame securely. Remember, if it is placed in a weak door, even the most efficient lock will not keep out a determined burglar. A peephole or a wide-angle viewer in the door is safer for identifying visitors than a door chain. Sliding glass doors present a special problem because they are easy to open, but there are locks designed for them. A broomstick in the door channel can help, but don’t depend on it for security.
Locks. Deadbolt locks are best. Windows. Key locks are available for all types of windows. Double-hung windows can be secured simply by “pinning” the upper and lower frames together with a nail, which can be removed from the inside. For windows at street level, consider iron grates or grilles. For windows opening onto a fire escape, metal accordion gates can be installed on the inside. Make the Extra Effort Here are some “home security habits” to develop and practice: • Establish a routine to follow in making certain that doors and windows are locked and alarm systems are turned on • Avoid giving information to unidentified telephone callers, or announcing your personal plans in want ads or public notices (such as giving your address when advertising items for sale). Notify police if you see suspicious strangers in your area. • Handle your keys carefully. Don’t carry house keys on a key ring bearing your home address or leave house keys with your car in a commercial parking lot. Don’t hide your keys in “secret” places outside your home burglars usually know where to look. • Remember special vacation tips. This is a clear giveaway that the owners are not home. When going on vacation, leave blinds open in their usual position. Have mail and packages picked up, forwarded or held by the post office. Lower the sound of your telephone bell so it can’t be heard outside. Arrange to have your lawn mowed or your walk shoveled. Stop newspaper deliveries. Ask a friend to pick up “throwaway” newspapers and circulars. Use automatic timers to turn lights on and
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off in your living room and bedrooms at appropriate times. Consider connecting a radio to a timer. Tell police and dependable neighbors when you plan to be away and join with your neighbors to keep a close watch on what’s happening in your area working closely with them is a good way to prevent crime. • Run away if you can and call police. • Lock yourself in a room if you can’t escape. • Cooperate and stay as calm as possible should you find yourself face-to-face with a burglar. Report any losses to your insurance representative promptly and accurately. (Don’t forget to check your household inventory.)
Illicit drug use is a problem that has been around for a long time. It is also a problem that has changed over the past few decades. Some drugs are more commonly used today than they were in the past.
In 2008, 32.7% of youth aged 15 to 24 reported using marijuana in the past year.1
The fact is that the risks of using illicit drugs are farreaching. They can have serious consequences on the health and the future of young people.1 It is difficult to stay current with the changing nature of illicit drugs. This is a challenge for parents who want to influence their teen’s decisions and behaviour about using illegal drugs. Health Canada’s Talking to Your Teen about Drugs booklet provides basic information for parents about illegal drugs and youth.
PARENTS MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE Teenagers often struggle with their sense of self and their place in the world. They are faced with social pressures and influences that are powerful and complex. Parents sometimes feel that they do not fully understand these pressures and influences. They may feel that they are not sufficiently informed about the dangers and consequences of drug use. They may worry that they are losing contact with their teenager’s priorities, choices and behaviour. As a result, many parents find it difficult to talk with their teenager about illicit drugs. For all of these reasons, parents may think that they have less and less influence as their child grows up. Parents sometimes don’t realize that they have a lot of influence on their teenager’s behaviour. They are often surprised to learn that 87% of teenagers think that their parents are credible sources of information about illicit drugs.2
Parents can make a big difference. Those who are knowledgeable about illicit drugs can more easily discuss the topic of drugs with their children. They will be better able to take action to prevent use and guide their teen if they become exposed to illicit drugs.
BE KNOWLEDGEABLE Drug use by teenagers Levels of drug use are constantly fluctuating and have undergone significant changes during the past 30 years. Use of some hallucinogenic drugs such as PCP and LSD was higher 30 years ago than today, but the use of ecstasy and crack cocaine has become more common over the past two decades. Nationally, in 2008, 34.0% of youth aged 15 to 24 reported using an illicit drug (including cannabis) in the past year.3 In Ontario in 2007, 25.6% of youth in grades 7 through 12 reported use of cannabis in the past year â&#x20AC;&#x201C; this represents 256,610 youth in Ontario.4 This is more than double the 11.9% of Ontario students who reported use of cigarettes in the past year.5
Health risks of illegal drug use There are many health risks from using illicit drugs and these can differ a lot from one drug to another. Users can never be sure about what chemicals are in a drug or how potent it is. Tablets are sold in a variety of shapes, colours and sizes. They may be stamped with a logo but this does not guarantee the contents of the tablets. In 2006, 91.8% of seized ecstasy samples that were analysed by Health Canada also contained another drug. The most common other drug was methamphetamine (30.9%).6 1 Health Canada, (2009). 2008 Highlights Report: Canadian Alcohol and Drug Use Monitoring Survey (CADUMS), Ottawa. 2 Health Canada, (2003), Youth and Marijuana Quantitative Research. 3 Health Canada, (2009). 2008 Highlights Report: Canadian Alcohol and Drug Use Monitoring Survey (CADUMS), Ottawa. 4 Adlaf, E.M., & Paglia-Boak, A. (2007). Drug Use Among Ontario Students 1977-2007: Detailed OSDUHS Findings. Toronto: Centre for Addiction and Mental Health. 5 Ibid. 6 Health Canada, (2008). Office of Research and Surveillance, Drug Analysis Service seizures data.
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In 2006, more than 4,700 young people between the ages of 12 and 17 were charged with a cannabis offence in Canada and over 790
Drugs can lower inhibitions and affect a person's judgment. This means users might do dangerous things they would not usually do. They might engage in unsafe sex that may lead to an unwanted pregnancy or a sexually transmitted infection. They might drive an automobile or be a passenger with a driver who is under the influence, or even take other drugs that they normally wouldn't try.
ADDICTION Most illicit drugs can be addictive. Addiction is a complex disorder that is influenced by a number of factors. It is characterized by craving, compulsive drug-seeking behaviour and continuous use despite the harm that the drug is causing. Addiction can take over a person's life. A drug addiction could put a stop to your child's promising future.
were charged with a cocaine offence.7 Legal risks of using illegal drugs
The drugs covered in the booklet are subject to the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act and are illegal unless a person has been authorized to carry out specific activities. Without this authorization, it is a criminal offence to possess, import, export, manufacture or traffic (sell or give to someone else) these drugs. Such offences could result in a criminal conviction. Punishment can be a fine, imprisonment, or both.7
Looking for information on: Marijuana; cocaine and crack cocaine; ecstasy; LSD; methamphetamine (“crystal meth”); psilocybin (“magic mushrooms”); heroin; ketamine; PCP and GHB? Visit www.drugprevention.gc.ca for information on these drugs.
Young people who commit offences under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act can be arrested and charged, and could get a criminal record, subject to the Youth Criminal Justice Act.
Marijuana is illegal There has been a lot of media coverage about marijuana and the law. There may be confusion about whether or not marijuana is illegal. It is important that parents and their children understand the facts about marijuana and the law. Marijuana is a controlled substance under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act. It is a criminal offence to possess, import, export, grow or traffic (sell or give to someone else) marijuana. There is only one exception. As described in the Marihuana Medical Access Regulations, certain people with severe medical problems, with the support of their physician, can be authorized to legally possess dried marijuana for their own medical use.
Learn more about drugs The effects of drugs are wide-ranging and often unpredictable. Some users can feel euphoric, energetic or relaxed, while other users may feel anxious or fearful. How a person feels after using a drug does not guarantee they will feel the same way the next time they use it. The way a person feels after taking a drug depends on many factors including age, weight, dose, how the drug is used, mood, expectations and environment.
Communicate with your teen Communication is key to a healthy relationship. This is especially true as you help your teenager develop sound decision-making skills. 7 Department of Justice Canada, (2008). Canadian Centre for Justice Statistics.
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As a parent, it is important to help develop your child's skills in making the right choices and good decisions. These decisions can be about school, friends or social activities. As the child becomes more self-confident in making these decisions, they will also feel more secure about decisions related to the use of drugs. Talking with your teenager about drugs is part of guiding them through the many decisions that can affect their life in the long term. Here are some tips to help you talk with your child: • Listen to your teenager's concerns and take his or her questions seriously. • Continue or develop the habit of talking regularly with your child on a variety of subjects. This will greatly facilitate discussion on the issue of drug use when the time comes. • Your child should learn about the dangers of drugs from parents first. Getting an initial perspective on drug use from the parent is the starting point for forming their own opinion in the future. • Be clear on where you stand. Successful communication with your teenager requires clear ideas. Your teenager needs to understand that you have a definite position on drugs and that his or her behaviour will be measured against that position. • Drug use among teenagers may be influenced by peer pressure. For most young people, acceptance and integration are a priority. Not every teen has the skills to resist peer pressure. • Build self-esteem. Young people who are confident about themselves are more likely to be able to refuse or resist social pressures to use drugs. As a parent you can help build that confidence. • Be a good example. Your actions can speak louder than your words.
Watch for signs Teenage years are often characterized by the fast pace of change. It is a time when choices are made and interests are developed. It is when personal style is defined and the body matures into adulthood. This typically translates into frequent changes in habits, social circles and activities. All these changes, including the possible use of drugs, offer signs that can be monitored by parents. Watch for changes in behaviour, performance in school, and social activities. Although some of these changes could simply be a normal part of being a teenager, you should consider the following as possible signs that your teenager could be using drugs.
P.O. Box 264 Carp-Ottawa, ON K0A 1L0
Tel.: 613-839-2816 Fax: 613-839-2403 abeaubien@karson.ca
108 ONTARIO POLICE NEWS PUBLICATION 1. Changes in social circle – Drug use can bring about a dramatic effect on social habits. Your teenager may start neglecting old friends in favour of people he or she doesn't bring home or talk about. 2. Changes in personal priorities – If your teenager turns away from family life or extra curricular activities, you should find out why. Watch for any radical changes in your teenager's interests. 3. Changes in academic performance – Lower interest in school is a clear sign there is an issue to be addressed. Signs to monitor include lower grades, attendance problems and teacher reports about the motivation and behaviour of the teenager. 4. Changes in behaviour – While privacy is important to teenagers, take note if your teenager becomes highly secretive or if their need for privacy becomes extreme. 5. Changes in health – Watch for sudden changes in sleeping and eating patterns. Weight loss is also a danger sign. These issues warrant attention even if they are not drug related. 6. Physical clues – Certain objects and equipment are associated with drug use. Examples include pipes for smoking, small spoons and other common objects such as baby soothers and surgical masks. While they are not illegal, they can be a sign of drug use.
If you suspect a problem, take action Take immediate action if you suspect your teenager is using drugs. Talk directly with your teen about it. If you feel that you need help, there are plenty of resources available. You can talk with your family doctor or your teen's school counsellor. Visit drugprevention.gc.ca for more information, including links to services and help lines available in your area. There is no easy answer or single solution if you find that your teenager has used an illicit drug. Remember, as a parent, you have an influence on your teen's behaviour. Despite what they say or do, your children look to you for support, encouragement and guidance.
Visit www.drugprevention.gc.ca to download a copy of Talking to Your Teens about Drugs. Copies of the booklet can also be ordered by calling 1 800 O-Canada.
TALK TO YOUR CHILD BEFORE IT’S TOO LATE!
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