RANKIN INLET - A local committee stepped up its efforts to make Rankin Inlet a better and safer place for youth this past month.

The safe and caring schools and community committee held a public meeting to explain its history and purpose, and to seek advice, suggestions, and guidance from elders, youth and other community members. More than 100 people attended the meeting.

Spokesperson Kevin Bussey said the committee was formed almost two years ago.

He said it grew from the inter-agency meetings which, in his opinion, weren't working that well in the community.

"We were very pleased to have more than 100 people come out to our first public meeting," said Bussey.

"The elders who spoke had some very interesting observations and suggestions, as did a number of young students who told us what they'd like to see us doing, and offered to help and get involved with us.

"The purpose of our committee is to develop programs and initiatives that would make our schools and community more caring and safer places for our youth.

"We're trying to do this under the concept of the whole community is responsible for helping to raise a child."

Bussey said another reason for the public meeting was to try and get more people involved with the committee.

He said it's important to the committee to have the community represented as widely as possible.

"We have all the typical agencies like Health and Social Services, RCMP, hamlet office, all three schools, community and mental health, dietary and physiotherapy.

"But we'd like to see organizations such as the Kivalliq Inuit Association and Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. be involved with us, too.

"The response we received at the meeting was absolutely awesome.

"We came away with many suggestions for our upcoming agenda, and we're looking forward to working with the new youth group, as well as on our anti-smoking, drugs and drinking-and-driving programs."