SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - Eight months after stalling, there are no clear signs of revival for a pair of programs that helped police with care for drunks and to watch out for crime.

Mike Lowing and Lea Martin were responsible for administering two citizen run groups in the city under the Yellowknife Community Wellness Coalition that stalled in March. - NNSL file photo

"The programs aren't technically defunct, there's still a possibility of resurrecting them," explained Lea Martin, the senior co-chair of the Yellowknife Community Wellness Coalition, the organization that administers both the Citizens on Patrol (COP) and Community Patrol Service (CPS) programs.

"(They) either have to go to another organization, or the YCWC needs to be revived."

The COP program, launched in 2004, consisted of volunteers who contacted police if they witnessed crimes or suspicious activity taking place. CPS came two years to provide a more "hands-on" volunteer service where participants patrolled the city on weekend nights, usually between 6 p.m. and 10 p.m., in search of intoxicated people who needed a ride to a friend's place or to the Salvation Army shelter.

Both financial and personnel issues led to programs' demise. The programs cost the wellness coalition about $25,000 a year to administer, including $10,000 a year in personality liability insurance for volunteers. Other costs included purchasing jackets, cell phones, workers' compensation fees and gas.

The CPS program had been leasing a van from Yk Chrysler at a cost of $6,500 a year plus $1,500 for vehicle insurance. The van is now back with the dealership after the wellness coalition defaulted on the lease payments. There is still an outstanding debt of $6,000 for the van's lease.

In terms of government funding, the programs received $50,000 from the National Crime Prevention Centre in 2004, another $25,000 from the GNWT's Department of Justice in 2007 and about $30,000 a year for three years from the City of Yellowknife. There was also lesser amounts from various organizations.

But in 2008, the wellness coalition missed the deadline for further funding from the city. The group applied to four different organizations to fund this year's services, but was rejected each time.

In the end, coalition wasn't able to sustain volunteer recruitment and training. Mike Lowing, the other co-founder, works in the mining industry and is away from the city most of the week, she said. Martin has had health problems, and her job with the federal government also requires her to be away from the city for lengthy periods of time.

"I'm very proud we were able to establish (these programs). I think they were very viable programs," she said. "(But) it's time for somebody else to take over."

Lydia Bardak, a city councillor and the executive director with the John Howard Society of the NWT, is interested in reviving the CPS program under the Society's banner. She volunteered with both groups, and was still with the CPS when it shut down in March.

"It would be easy to recruit volunteers right now, and it would be easy to get past volunteers back," she said.

Bardak explained the challenges with the programs, especially high volunteer liability insurance costs, could be assumed by the John Howard Society because it is covered by a national insurer.

The John Howard Society is also willing to recruit volunteers, schedule training and volunteer shifts for the CPS program because it already has a person in place at the society that does those functions for their community justice program, she said.

Martin said an offer was made by the John Howard Society to manage and administer the CPS for $5,000 a year, but at the time, the wellness coalition didn't have the funds. Martin said she is also talking to some groups about taking over the COP program as well, but didn't want to disclose their identity.

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