Duane Hicks
A new community safety volunteer group will be patrolling the streets of Fort Frances and Couchiching starting tomorrow night.
Fort Frances Bear Clan Patrol, affiliated with the original Winnipeg Bear Clan Patrol, will be on the lookout for anyone who might be in distress, especially women and children.
Local organizer Sandra Allan said she started following the activities of the “Bear Clan” this spring when they helped search for several missing persons, including Kenora teen Delaine Copenace, in Winnipeg’s North End.
“I really love their concept and I loved what they were doing for their community,” she remarked.
“I thought we could really benefit by it.”
Over the past few months, Allan created a Facebook group—garnering a positive response from the community and interest from volunteers.
On July 14-15, she and three fellow Fort Frances Bear Clan members went to Winnipeg to patrol with that group.
“We got hands-on experience,” noted Allan. “A big-time eye-opener.
“We were brought to the north end.”
Among other tasks, they helped search for missing man Derwin Beardy.
Now the local “Bear Clan” is ready to hit the pavement here.
A small group of volunteers will patrol Fort Frances and Couchiching this Friday and Saturday night.
They will be noticeable thanks to their reflective safety vest and I.D. badge.
The aim is to provide the community with a safe and peaceful environment.
“Basically what we’re doing is patrolling the area, making sure everyone’s safe,” said Allan.
“We report any kind of criminal activity to the police,” she stressed.
The “Bear Clan” does not arrest people. It also does not go into people’s homes unless invited, or otherwise take action that is more appropriately the responsibility of the police.
But members do want to provide community support and promote safety.
This could range from helping a homeless person, escorting an individual home safely, or helping an elderly person unload groceries or shovel snow to promoting anti-drug awareness and picking up used syringes and similar waste.
Should the situation arise, they will help search for missing people.
In First Nations’ teachings, the bear represents protction and peace.
As such, the Bear Clan Patrol is committed to “the restoration and maintenance of harmony within the community by promoting and providing safety, conflict resolution, mobile witnessing and crime prevention, and maintaining a visible presence on the streets, providing an early response to situations, as well as providing rides, escorts, and referrals.”
Visit the “Fort Frances Bear Clan Patrol” Facebook page to find out more about the group and how to get involved.
The group is welcoming more volunteers aged 18 and older.
The group also has a GoFundMe page to raise funds for equipment to get going, including safety vests, a laptop, patches, walkie-talkies, back packs, and office supplies.
The fundraising goal is $3,500.
The page can be found at www.gofundme.com/2ex77c4
Alternately, if anyone would like to donate any of these items, the group would very much appreciate it.
Allan can be reached at 1-807-861-0629 or contact the group through its Facebook page.
