Safe Communities Kawartha Lakes

The City of Kawartha Lakes is the 58th city in Canada to be officially recognized as a Safe Community.

Background
A community forum that brought together over 25 people, representing more than 15 organizations and government departments, to discuss injuries and crime in City of Kawartha Lakes. Attendees identified ways to move forward, and supported City of Kawartha Lakes becoming a designated Safe Community as the way to formally address safety and crime issues.

The City of Kawartha Lakes Police Service hosted an initial meeting of the leaders in our community. For the purpose of this initial meeting, we requested at least core leadership representation of the Mayor or his designate and the most senior available representative of Police, Fire, Public Health, EMS, both Public and Separate School Boards and the local hospital. Others, such as YMCA, VCARS, Red Cross, St. John Ambulance, Sexual Assault Centre, Municipal Recreation, and other local NGO’s involved in various support roles impacting Community Safety were most welcome.

Safe Communities Kawartha Lakes Leadership Team
Safe Communities - Kawartha Lakes (SCKL) went to great lengths to ensure the Leadership Team included: local government, public health, police, fire, emergency services, educational institutions, local businesses, health and safety organizations, and any other individuals and organizations which are taking a position of leadership on issues of injury prevention and safety promotion in the community.

Co-chairs:

John Hagarty, Chief of Police City of Kawartha Lakes Police Service (CKPLS)
Donna Villemaire, Councillor City of Kawartha Lakes

Marjorie Oke, HKPR Health Unit
Matt Beacock, Fire Inspector, CKL
Lori Watson, Women’s Resources
Mary Riley, Reporter, Lindsay This Week
Lorrie Polito, A Place Called Home                                               
Don Thomas, Retired Deputy Chief, CKPLS
Inspector Rob Shaw, CKL OPP
Scott Robertson, Boys & Girls Club
Andrew Rafton, EMS Manager, CKLEMS
Penny Barton-Dyke, United Way
Linda Skilton, Principal/Dean, Frost Campus

The Safe Communities - Kawartha Lakes Leadership Team is committed to using the injury causes priorities identified at the February 12, 2009 Priority Setting Day to inform decision making, strategic planning and collaboration required to effectively reduce injuries in our community. As well, partnerships will be and have been created, due to the priorities championed by the Leadership Team, as established at the Priority-Setting Event.

Safe Communities - Kawartha Lakes Leadership Team will continue its commitment to take a lead role in ensuring we focus on

Our Objective
A Safe Community is one in which people and organizations come together to do two things: Reduce injury and Promote community and public safety.

Our Vision
Dedicated to making the City of Kawartha Lakes the safest community in which to live, learn, work and play.

Our Mission
To ensure all people within the City of Kawartha Lakes have an equal opportunity to live, learn, work and play in a safe community.

People are the foundation of Safe Communities - Kawartha Lakes. Connections and partnerships are at the heart of our approach. Championing innovative ways of working together to address mutual concerns is what we do. Safety is everyone’s responsibility.