The Voice of Our Community
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The Voice of Our Community |
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 In September 99, under the direction of Maureen
MacDonald, MLA Needham District, a series of public meetings were held at North Branch
Library, St . Patrick’s Alexander Elementary School, Bloomfield and George Dixon
Centres, so that citizens of the area could voice their concerns on numerous issues
affecting the community at large – vicious dogs running loose, drugs, prositution, to
name a few.
Maureen made contact with the Mayor and municipal alderman, the head of the Metro Regional Housing Authority, Director of By-Law Enforcement and the Chief of Police. Eventually, the Chief of Police, Housing Authority and Animal Control agreed to a public meeting at George Dixon Centre. The People’s Forum on crime was held in January 2000, Since that time there have been prevention meetings as well as safe community Meetings in order to prioritize the themes identified by the working group and to begin to develop some goals and objectives. Themes from crime and public safety to seniors were discussed.
We have had the opportunity of being facilitated by Sharon Martin, Emily Donelan and Heather MacLeod– Baudelot of the George Dixon Centre. At the Present time, we have a chairperson and have established the outlining our boundaries of North street to Cornwallis, Maynard to Barrington Street. Much progress has been made since last September. Thanks to MLA Maureen MacDonald, Needham District, for her efforts an our behalf and to all those who have walked with us step by step on our journey to where we are today.
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In March, there was a community police information session where
Constable Larry Tench, Village Constable, and Cedric Upshaw, Community/Race Relations
Officer , were introduced.
Constable
Mike Landry has spoken to the Committee about the benefits of the Neighbourhood Watch
– a way for residents to keep an eye on suspicious activities, robberies and other
illegal activities in the neighbourhood.
David McCall, of the North End Community Garden Association, gave
the committee a detailed description about the Community Garden on Gerrish and Brunswick
Streets. we joined with the Garden Asscoiation in a successful "Meet and Greet"
and barbeque on May 27th. Later, on July 8th, we joined with the brunswick Street United
Church in a Clean -up Day covering Murray Warrington Park and much of Uniacke Square.