ESTEVAN — During the latest Estevan Chamber of Commerce Coffee Talk session held on May 1, the Estevan Community Safety and Well-Being Committee shared a look into their progress with a safety and well-being plan for the community.
The committee was formed late last year to address safety and well-being in the city, said the chamber's executive director Jackie Wall. It is co-chaired by Shelly Veroba and Heidi Hesselink. A pilot project for Estevan has been underway since last fall and wrapped up in March.
Initially conceived as part of a trial run under the Saskatchewan Economic Development Alliance (SEDA), the project received funding from the Ministry of Corrections and Public Safety through the community safety and well-being branch.
The Estevan Community Safety and Well-Being project brought together stakeholders from municipalities, health and mental health, community and social services, education, children and youth services, not-for-profit organizations, seniors, and the Estevan Police Service.
Their mission was formulated to work collaboratively across all sectors to create and enhance community safety and well-being in the city. The vision is the community will sustain safety and well-being for all generations.
The main objective of the committee is to guarantee access to necessary services and assistance for all members of the community.
Representatives from the Estevan Police Service, Envision Counselling and Support Centre, Estevan Comprehensive School and the City of Estevan engaged in a panel discussion.
Veroba noted that while the plan is still in the early phases, there is progress and the committee has grown more acquainted with the community's various needs, which defined four main areas of focus and also initiated several endeavours.
Veroba elaborated on the group's vision statement, aiming to establish sustainable safety and well-being across all age groups.
"That statement speaks volumes to us, who are involved with this document in the committee. And we hope that it will speak volumes to you as well," Veroba said.
Over the past four months, the committee collaborated with 20 agencies from the surrounding area. In this phase, they conducted focus groups with students, seniors and various agency representatives to gather insights into community needs.
Veroba emphasized the importance of gathering input from a diverse range of community members, which served as a base for their plan.
Through data collection, the Community Safety and Well-Being Committee pinpointed key areas of priority: mental wellness, substance abuse and addiction, education and employment, and victimization. Trauma emerged as a common thread across these areas, highlighting the necessity for additional prevention and risk mitigation programs.
From these four priority areas, four initiatives were identified, including funding for further committee efforts; increased education for resources available (such as 211.ca – Saskatchewan database of over 6,000 community, social, non-clinical health and government services, along with other resources); community building, aimed at creating an environment for residents to get to know each other better; and identifying enhancements already available.
"This committee will identify gaps and explore ways to fill these gaps," Veroba said.
Laura Melle, assistant executive director of Envision Counselling and Support Centre, noted the alignment between the plan outcomes and Envision's existing Family Intervention Rapid Support Team (FIRST) program.
ECS principal James Jones noted the attendance patterns they are observing with high school students and emphasized the need for collective effort in supporting the community's youth and ensuring a safe environment through resource sharing and assistance.
EPS Deputy Police Chief Warren Morrical talked about the Police and Crisis Team (PACT), a collaborative effort between government, police and the health authority to change the way mental health emergencies are handled. He also stressed the significance of community support and collaboration.
Wall noted that while it was a pilot project, she is confident the outcomes of that pilot are not going to sit on a shelf, as the Estevan Community Safety and Well-Being Committee remains committed to fostering a safer and more inclusive community environment for all Estevan residents.
