The World Health Organization’s Collaborating Centre on Community Safety Promotion officially has given the nod to Rainy River District to host the 11th International Conference on Safe Communities next May.
In making the announcement, centre president Leif Svanstrom, noted district residents and businesses have developed programs that are the envy of the world.
The 2002 conference will demonstrate to the world that programs improving safety in all walks of life can be developed from grassroots participation without initial government funding.
District delegates delivered that message through a series of papers on community awareness programs presented at the 10th International Safe Communities Conference in Anchorage, Alaska last month.
The 2002 conference will continue that focus, demonstrating community awareness programs beginning in the primary school years to prepare youth for a safe and productive life, with continuation of ongoing programs well into the retirement years.
These include:
•mobilizing communities into cross-sectional groups, which use community strategic planning to promote community safety as a social and economic development tool;
•programs addressing suicide, substance abuse, and other self-destructive behaviour from childbirth to seniors; and
•programs that address improving the quality of life and health of aboriginal people.
Conference co-ordinator Jeannette Cawston said delegates will be able travel across the district visiting resource work sites, aboriginal communities, seniors groups, and schools to learn directly how programs were developed and implemented.
“Delegates will leave with documents and information that they can begin implementing in communities in their countries,” she noted.
More than 45 countries, with 350-500 delegates, are expected to participate in the conference here.
For more information, call the conference headquarters at 1-800-465-8502 or visit its Web site at www.2002.com
Fort Frances Times
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