2011 Crime Stoppers of York Region School Symposium Highlights.wmv

2nd Annual Crime Stoppers School Symposium

Another successful day of learning for students

On Tuesday, February 8th, 2011 Crime Stoppers of York Region hosted its 2nd Annual School Symposium at the Richmond Hill Centre for the Performing Arts. 350 students and staff from high schools from across York Region attended this year's event. The day was kicked off with opening ceremonies which included remarks from Bruce Herridge, Deputy Chief of Police, York Regional Police, Ken Thurston, Director of Education, York Region District School Board, Patricia Preston, Associate Director, Leading Learning, York Catholic District School Board, Dan Timmins Past Chair, Crime Stoppers of York Region and David Forster, Committee Chair, Student Crime Stoppers Program. The day's events were based around the topic of "Social Responsibiltiy".

The winning student Crime Stoppers posters were unveiled in front of the students by the creators. All of the poster submissions for this year's poster contest are on display at the Richmond Hill Centre for the Performing Arts for the month of February. We invite the public to attend and view the high quality submissions that were received this year which made it very difficult to choose only three winning posters.

Breaking The Cycle then opened up the learning sessions as the keynote presenter. The group spoke about breaking the cycle when a young person goes down the wrong road. With their open mike forum a few students spoke about their heart wrenching personal experiences. After the keynote address the students were split off into breakout sessions which included a presenter from MADD Canada that shared her personal family tragedy when her sister was killed by an impaired driver along with Allstate Insurance presenting their new "Action Against Distraction" safe texting video and lecture. Other students attended sessions presented by Breaking The Cycle which included personal stories from a few students in their program. They spoke about their anger when their brother was fatally shot and killed by a street gang and another spoke about how they were forced into prostitution to help sustain their drug addiction.

Other presenters included topics on anti bullying from the York Region District School Board which in recent years has increased due to the use of technology. Toronto Crime Stoppers and the Toronto Police Service presented Facebook and internet safety while the York Regional Police presented on the effects of guns and gangs and making the right choices. Youth Speak also ran a breakout session where young adults spoke of their experiences when they went down the wrong road and how they were able to make a change in their life to now become a productive member of society.

The day's events were tied back into Crime Stoppers with the new Student Crime Stoppers DVD "Our School, Our Community, Our Call" which was produced by the Ontario Association of Crime Stoppers using students from Newmarket High School and re-enactments by students at Unionville High School. This DVD has been distributed to all 38 Crime Stoppers programs in Ontario for the Student Crime Stoppers program.

The symposium is organized by a working group consisting of Crime Stoppers of York Region personnel along with students and staff from the York Region District School Board and the York Catholic District School Board.

It was a fun, interactive and educational day for the students outside of the normal school setting that they are used to on a daily basis. We look forward to next year's symposium which again will be held in February.

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• Crime Stoppers
• York Region
• Richmond Hill
• Langstaff Secondary
• Richmond Green Secondary
• School
• symposium
• breaking the cycle
• youth speak
• Allstate
• MADD
• Action Against Distraction