On Tuesday June 2nd, the Greater Sudbury Police Service and Police Services Board welcomed the guests at an Open House and BBQ at the Community Drop-In Program, located at 247 Shaughnessy Street, the Police Storefront.
Many were on hand for warm greetings from Police Board Chair, Gerry Lougheed Jr. who provided chocolate milk knowing that this is a favourite for Drop-in clients. “People are the police and police are the people,” said Gerry Lougheed Jr., at the Community BBQ. “How do you make that quote real? You’ve got to have a place where the people get to know the police and the police get to know the people. A place that has accessibility, awareness, and an appreciation about what this place, the Community Drop-In Centre is all about. A place where everyone can sit together and understand what it means to, not police with force but police with service, and for that we say thank you for this Drop-In Centre.”
Chief of Police Paul Pedersen was also on hand greeting and engaging the crowd. “This is a place we want you to feel comfortable in,” said the Chief of Police Paul Pedersen. “This kind of place is a place that is going to build communities.”
“It is important that we have partnerships and are speaking together, that’s the importance about this community,” said Marianne Matichuk Mayor of Greater Sudbury who also spoke about the importance of community partnerships.
“All of our partners have come together with the same goal in mind, to provide services in a non-judgemental way, while ensuring that all individuals have access to resources,” concluded Christine Lafortune, NOAH’s S.P.A.C.E representative.
The event was a great success and increased community awareness of the Drop-In Program.
The Community Drop In Program is a collaborative group of partners including the Aboriginal Peoples Alliance of Northern Ontario, Greater Sudbury Police Service, Sudbury and District Health Unit, Noah's Space and Project Peace offering resources, referrals, workshops and social inclusion to clients in the downtown core. The Program was developed in response to the identification of gaps in social service delivery within the Sudbury Region. Presently there are few front line services that offer crisis intervention, resources, or referrals, or simply a “safe place” to attend outside of regular business hours for men, women and youth. This excludes many persons from the umbrella of delivery, and limits social services’ ability to reach out to vulnerable persons at a critical time. In addition, many people who are associated with social groups feel marginalized from social services because they belong to stigmatized groups including “addict”, “sex worker” or “mental health patient”. These groups have indicated that traditional models of service delivery fail to meet their needs.
Clients attending the Drop-In Program can access:
• Weekly health clinics
• Social service providers and volunteers
• Topical educational workshops (employment, violence, self-esteem, advocacy)
• A worker trained in crisis prevention & intervention
• Assistance with short-term immediately identified needs.
• Access to activities
• Support for self-advocacy
• Access to health related materials
• Snacks, and activities
• Clothing, and household items
• Immediate support and facilitated access to emergency and crisis services
Thank you to Mayor Matichuk, the Greater Sudbury Police Service Board, Chief Pedersen, NOAH’s S.P.A.C.E. and program partners and members of the Service for all your hard work, dedication, and friendship this afternoon.