Downtown Strategy Department Update
as of September 10, 2007
Department of Recreation, Parks and Culture
The Recreation Department has been pleased to assist with implementation of the Downtown Strategy in the following ways:
- Ensuring that all park areas have been kept well weeded, clear of litter and flowers were planted and replaced as necessary as soon as possible.
- Graffiti has been removed as soon as possible on all department facilities.
- Six concerts in the Park took place throughout the summer.
- Daily removal of litter, dead branches etc. from shrub beds in the downtown area.
- Pruning of trees and shrubs has been done on a limited basis.
- Replacement trees and shrubs have been ordered and will be planted this fall.
- Festive Lighting brochure and price list given to Downtown Improvement Committee for their review.
Bruce Krentz
Superintendent of Parks, Recreation and Culture
Public Works
The Public Works Department contributed to the Downtown Strategy as follows:
- Hired two paper pickers.
- Asphalt Program.
- Placement of Banners on the Mystery Lake Road.
- Purchase of a new Bobcat for snow clearing the side walks in winter months.
- Sweepers removed gravel from the roads during spring clean-up.
- The islands on Mystery Lake Road were asphalted.
- The lines of the Pedestrian Cross walks were painted.
Jim Mardell
Assistant Superintendent of Public Works
Thompson Fire and Emergency Services
The Thompson Firefighters Association had a carwash at the City Center Mall parking lot in early June.
A number of auxiliary firefighting training nights have had skill practices such as catching hydrants, pumping, etc, in the City Centre Mall Parking lot as well.
Fire - Paramedics do walkabouts (whenever possible if not tasked or on calls already) at downtown activities such as Manitoba Indigenous Summer Games, firework display, concerts etc.
Currently developing a procedure with RHA Infection Control for sharps pickup.
We did a number of patrols of the downtown and bush areas in conjunction with the Emergency Medical Response class R.D Parker Collegiate.
We contacted Manitoba Conservation Fire Control Officer regarding crews to assist with bush clearing and to contact the City of Thompson Council and Recreation department for initiation.
Demonstrations planned for the downtown are included:
- Firefighting demonstrations, tours of apparatus (malls), contests (schools), from October 7th-13th, 2007 in conjunction with National Fire Prevention Week.
- Emergency Responders Day - September 11th, 2008, Safety presentations, tours of EMS/Fire equipment, hazmat demonstrations, refreshments.
- Vehicle extraction demonstrations (eg. jaws of Life) at the City Centre Mall and Thompson Plaza Mall parking lots on September 17th and 18th, 2007.
- Technical rescue demonstrations (rappelling rope rescue off MTS building) that took place on August 28th and 29th, 2007.
We have scheduled many of the above demonstrations for late September due to many of our employees on vacation, parental and medical leave. These demonstrations have the dual benefit of allowing crews to train while providing the public with a sense of the department’s capabilities and responsibilities.
We are making every effort to include city council into departmental policies in order to ensure they are carried out in the way council intended. The Training Officer has been tasked with including the downtown areas wherever possible when coordinating or delivering training.
Ken Thevenot
Fire Chief
R.C.M.P
From January 1 to August 31, 2007, Thompson RCMP detachment has handled
10,464 calls for service. In particular with respect to the downtown
initiative:-
The Thompson Detachment has lodged 1575 persons under the Intoxicated
Persons Detention Act from May 1st, 2007 to August, 31st, 2007 both dates
inclusive. For comparison purposes, during the same period in 2006 the
Thompson Detachment lodged 1035 persons under the Intoxicated Persons
Detention Act. The increase of 540 more persons lodged during this time
period in 2007 can no doubt be attributed to the concentration of
enforcement in the downtown core of Thompson.
Along these lines, from May 1st, 2007 to August 31st, 2007 the Thompson
Detachment recorded making 108 foot patrols in the downtown area. There
had been a problem in that each watch was not reporting consistently, hence
alot of foot patrols that were conducted were not recorded.
This problem has been addressed and a marked increase in the recorded foot patrols has
taken place.
There are currently three people barred from the liquor store and Thompson
Beverage Rooms under the Universal Barring Notice.
COPS Camp a summer youth Program put on by the Thompson RCMP has been
completed for another year. This was once again a successful endeavor
thanks to the hard work of Cst Lois Cormier.
Over the past three months, members of the Thompson Detachment attended a
total of 22 meetings with various stakeholders in Thompson in mutual problem
solving and information sharing sessions largely focused on downtown issues.
(June - nine meetings, July- five meetings and in August - eight
meetings).
On September 19th, 2007 Members of the Thompson RCMP Detachment will be
undertaking training in partnership with the Canadian Mental Health
Association. The training is designed to assist Members in understanding
persons with mood disorders, schizophrenia and the Criminal Justice System.
Members will also learn more about the resources available to persons with
such disorders available in the Thompson and Northern Manitoba Region.
Members will also get a statistical break down of homelessness and the
Justice System. This is a program we are hoping to provide to all new
members to the Thompson Detachment and it is a tool that can be used to
better understand and find solutions to our Downtown Initiative designed to
provide a safer Downtown in the City of Thompson.
The Thompson Detachment is currently working on a proposal for Enhancement
of Public Safety in Downtown Thompson. We have met with various
Stakeholders like Mayor and Council, The Crown Attorney, MKO and we are
currently researching the long term benefits this program has and getting
feedback from Fort McMurray where this initiative has already been used. As
this is a long term project we are gathering as much information as we can
to see what the benefits are and whether it is something we can incorporate
into our service delivery here in Thompson. It fits hand and glove with
things like the a/n training so the ground work is already being set down.
The DARE Drug Alcohol Awareness and Resistance Education training is ready
to be rolled out again to selected schools in Thompson. The School Liaison
positions are also currently being filled by members and will be ready for
the up and coming school year.
K.D.S. (Keith) Finn, Inspector, OIC Thompson Amalgamated Detachment
For Release: May 17, 2007
