The weather conditions were less than ideal for a flag raising, but that didn’t curb the enthusiasm of Guelph Wellington Crime Stoppers coordinator Sarah Bowers-Peter.
“We will all freeze together in the name of stopping crime,” she laughed.
She was joined by North Wellington Crime Stoppers board member and Mapleton councillor Dennis Craven, Wellington North Mayor Andy Lennox and Wellington OPP Inspector Scott Lawson as they raised a flag to signal the beginning of Crime Stoppers awareness month.
Throughout January the organization will be increasing its activity on social media to hopefully generate more tips and interest from the public.
“We want to create more awareness, and specifically prompt people to call in with more tips and for people to be more aware of our fundraising initiatives,” said Bowers-Peter.
“All of our fundraising activities go toward rewards.”
Craven says many people aren’t aware that Crime Stoppers receives no government funding.
“We get no government assistance. All the money we hand out in rewards is done by fundraising by board members,” he said.
Those members are hoping the awareness raised this month will help encourage the public to participate in upcoming fundraisers such as the annual mulch sale in Fergus and Guelph, the police auction, and Guelph Storm ticket sales.
Craven says they are also hoping to put up more roadside signs like those in Drayton and Alma.
“We’re looking for sponsors for more of them so we can get more of these signs up to raise awareness,” he said. “It’s good advertising for the [sponsor] company as well.”
Lawson says the Crime Stoppers program continues to be an invaluable resource in the community.
“Quite frankly we can’t do without it; our commitment to the program is full support,” he said. “We make sure to include Crime Stoppers references at the bottom of all of our press releases … we do get a lot of tips and we do act on them – each and every tip.
“We do find it helpful in the community, certainly for the public safety aspect and to resolve some of the crime we’re seeing.”
Local businesses can demonstrate their support by posting a Crime Stoppers message on their signs and on social media.
Crime Stoppers offers an anonymous method of reporting crime. Caller identities are protected and they never have to testify in court. Information that leads to an arrest could receive a reward of up to $2,000.
For more information visit www.csgw.tips.
