Sarah Mills: The magic of a good, old-fashioned letter
Could letters of old be the way to save Canada Post? In today's Mills Minute, Sarah Mills says there is something rather...
By Kenneth Cheung
Residents in Lloydminster may be stopped by police, fire, or municipal officers for all the right reasons.
The City of Lloydminster launched its Positive Ticketing Program on Wednesday, an initiative that rewards residents – especially young people – for safe, kind and community-minded choices.
Read more:
- Poll suggests 85% of Canadians want governments to regulate AI
- Fizzing up: Sask. businesses cash in on the dirty soda carbonation craze
- Hospitals of Regina Foundation unveils most valuable grand prize fall showhome to date
Officers will be handing out tickets when they see things like helping others, using a crosswalk properly or wearing a helmet when biking. Each ticket comes with a small prize donated by a local business, such as kids’ meals, snacks or ice cream.
Sgt. Tayte Goddard, a peace officer who manages the city’s municipal enforcement department, said the idea came from a young officer who wanted to make a difference.
“One of my members there, upon her probationary period completion, wanted to undertake a positive ticketing program in the city of Lloydminster. So we discussed facilitating the creation of a program like that this year,” Goddard said.
The program is a joint effort between the RCMP, the fire department and the municipal enforcement department, with all three agencies handing out tickets when they see positive actions in the community.
Goddard said the program is meant to create better interactions between youths and officers.
“The success is just more of an interactive community, especially since this is a very youth-targeted program. Building relationships between youth and enforcement agencies and emergency services agencies,” he said.
Mayor Gerald Aalbers said it’s also about shining a light on what’s already good in the city.
“By recognizing and celebrating positive choices, we’re not only encouraging safe and respectful behaviours, but also building stronger connections between residents and our enforcement and emergency services,” Aalbers said in a statement.
Goddard said the program isn’t a response to youth problems, but rather a proactive way to encourage good behaviour.
“I think a lot of times proactivity is more well-received than reactivity,” he said.
Nine local businesses are on board in the first year of the program, and more could join in the future.
