IQALUIT
To address the problem of his students getting into mischief around the capital, Iqaluit's Aqsarniit Middle School principal Don Peters is partnering with the RCMP, Nunastar and Nunavut Arctic College to help the youth refocus their energy.
Aqsarniit principal Don Peters, left, Nunastar rental administrator Gord Durnford, Nunavut Arctic College senior instructor Noel Collins and RCMP community policing Sgt. Yvonne Niego discuss plans to reduce youth crime in Iqaluit. - Casey Lessard/NNSL photo |
"For that age group we're experiencing problems with as early as nine, 10, 12 years of age, there's really no programming for the kids," Peters said. "As the city grows, we're going to look more at providing programming from six o'clock to nine. I know in a lot of cities, it's not a concern, but our kids seem to be out in the evenings a lot.
"The program gap is there. But in the meantime, the schools are capable of providing more programming and more counselling for children between 3:30 and 5:30 (p.m.)."
The solution to expand youth programming beyond school hours stemmed from ongoing problems at city businesses. Nunastar properties - particularly the Astro Hill Complex, which includes the Frobisher Inn and the Brown Building - were the most visible targets of vandalism and opportunity crimes.
Property manager Tim MacLeod went public on community Facebook pages to vent his frustration and share YouTube videos and images of youth caught in the act of damaging fire alarm boxes, unplugging cars, and searching parked cars for items.
"It's been an ongoing situation seeing the same kids night after night searching cars with flashlights," said Nunastar rental administrator Gord Durnford. "They're going through vehicles even in the daytime if doors are not locked. They don't break into them, but if the doors are not locked, they get in."
Increased security has eased the problem, but community justice appears to be the only viable treatment.
"The kids are looking for attention and they know they can get it that way," Durnford said. "They know they're going to get attention when they show up. They need someone to focus on them."
RCMP community policing officer Sgt. Yvonne Niego agrees.
"Community members know we're busy with the higher level crime, and some of these kids are just so young," Niego said. "It's hard to know where to draw the line and call the police in for something. For the matters that do come to our attention, a chargeable age is 12 to 18 under the Youth Criminal Justice Act. Anything younger has to be dealt with in other ways."
With financial backing from Nunastar, Aqsarniit is aiming to increase attendance by at-risk youth and to keep youth busy after school by providing them with the attention they need.
"We've put a late bus in now so the kids can stay in the school until 5:45 p.m., and I can see our buses are full with 40 kids that are staying in the evenings now," Peters said. "That takes a lot of stress off parents that are working, that they know where their kids are and they'll be safe for those time periods."
Nunastar's $12,000 contribution from its youth fund is being used to buy snowmobile suits and food for upcoming land trips, as well as funding other activities.
NorthMart is also pitching in by providing food from Tim Hortons and a snowmobile that arrived to Iqaluit damaged.
"You'd be surprised at the kids who come in, do nothing all day long, and you give them something hands-on, and these guys are very creative," Peters said, explaining how his students are busy repairing the machine. "They know Ski-Doos and love to watch something they can create, alter and run. Plus we have four qamutiik the boys are building."
These machines and sleds are being stored in a shed built in partnership with Nunavut Arctic College, which wants youth to see they can have a future if they stay in school.
"Children need to have goals," Peters noted. "They need to see in middle school that they have a chance to become a carpenter, to be an RCMP officer, to be someone."
The police are backing school authorities.
"If they're breaking into vehicles, but through this program they're learning how to fix and ride a snowmobile, they'll learn some respect for vehicles," Niego said, adding it's important to stop the youth when they are committing petty crimes. "It gets more and more serious. An individual can experience adrenaline rushes and get hooked into this type of behaviour. Some of it is boredom, some escaping abuses."
Although the school is taking responsibility for its own kids, as well as bringing several at-risk high school students into the fold, Niego said parents need to be aware of their responsibility as well.
"A lot of families believe Iqaluit is a safe place like it was back in the day," she said. "But things have changed. There are new dangers. You can't just let your children go in the community unsupervised. The problem is building and we're seeing more and more of it."
