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The Southwest Regional Intersectoral Committee (RIC) is launching a regional Hub program that works within the Building Partnerships to Reduce Crime (BPRC) approach to crime reduction, community safety and wellness. Saskatchewan's first Hub program, established in Prince Albert, has been an incentive because it has contributed to an overall reduction in their criminal activity.  It has been a priority of the Southwest RIC for the past two years to develop a Hub in our Region. The Southwest RIC will be the governance committee for the Hub, ensuring that it runs in accordance with Information Sharing Guidelines and parameters set out by the province.

The RCMP, Cypress Health Region, Ministry of Social Services, Ministry of Justice, Chinook School Division and Holy Trinity School Division have partnered on the Hub. Working together, they will look for avenues to immediately assist individuals and families in crisis where safety is critical. "We have received a great deal of support from the BPRC provincial consultants in the past 18-months as we have trained our regional partners and defined how the Hub is going to look in the Southwest," says RIC Coordinator Cortney Reynolds, "We are very excited to have all of these agencies come together weekly to work collaboratively on addressing the needs of our at-risk population."

Often times each agency will have a piece of the puzzle but are missing the whole picture, and the Hub will be a forum to enable a collaborative effort and real help in critical times while respecting the privacy and dignity of individuals and families. These situations may be related to crime, victimization, mental illness, addictions and truancy, to name a few. Community collaboration has shown to have a positive impact on improved wellness for individuals, families and the community as a whole. In addition to this, Hubs ultimately reduce crime and victimization by focusing on community safety and wellness and on long-term community goals. Hub members help address challenges that at-risk individuals face at the local and potentially provincial levels.

Lee Cummins, Superintendent of Student Services at Chinook School Division, explained that working proactively with other agencies is a key strategy in enabling families and communities to receive supportive services, "One of the key concepts of the Hub initiative is based around the notion that 'if something is predictable it is preventable'. We look forward to the difference this service will make across southwest Saskatchewan in the coming months and years. It is a privilege for us to host the launch for the Hub at Chinook Education Centre."

Hub programs are running in Yorkton, Weyburn, Estevan, La Ronge, Moose Jaw, North Battleford, Nipawin and Prince Albert. Additional Saskatchewan communities along with communities throughout Canada are looking at establishing their own Hub programs in the near future.

For more information, contact:

Cortney Reynolds
Southwest & West Central RIC Coordinator
Phone: (306) 778-8476
cortney.reynolds@gov.sk.ca