Five young Whistlerites have come back from a crime-prevention symposium in Kamloops with an action plan to help address local drug and alcohol abuse and violence-related issues among students. Whistler secondary students Shawn Crichton, Kim Fenwick, Sonya Schaap, Roxanne Beswetherick and Jessica Montgomery, joined by RMOW youth programmer Simon Hudson, attended the annual B.C. Youth Police Network training symposium in Kamloops Sept. 22-24. Workshops included presentations on the Young Offenders Act, conflict resolution and youth in action. Participants also experienced a native Pow Wow with the Shushwap Band. It was in the afternoon planning sessions that the Whistler group came up with their plan to form a Whistler Youth Action Team. One of the team’s first steps will be to hold a candlelight march through the village in the near future to show local youth are aware of the issues and challenges facing them. They also have plans to construct a brick wall with a brick representing each student and a plaque reading: "The violence stops here." The action team will be aided by community police officer Warren Tomalty and supported by B.C Youth Police Network regional director Keith Ramzam. The BCYPN is a non-profit organization sponsored by the Attorney General’s office with a mandate to facilitate youth-led groups in different cities that focus on crime prevention and safe communities and schools.
