North Battleford announces increased patrols for downtown
The plan will include a patrol team of social agencies, community safety officers and RCMP members who will be dedicated to the city's downtown.
Mayor Kelli Hawtin said the increased patrols will be focused on ensuring that everyone using the downtown area can function well together.
"This isn't a project of just policing, which is one of the only tools a municipality has, but this is a project of connecting people to services that they may be needing in times of crisis or other times in their life," Hawtin said.
The patrol team will be focused on connecting people who may be struggling with addiction and health issues in the area to the appropriate services.
Hawtin said people in the downtown area are accessing services for a variety of different reasons that may cause safety issues.
"We have people shopping and seeking entertainment in downtown areas; we have people accessing, you know, things like accountants, lawyers, banks — but we also have people that are accessing important social services," Hawtin said.
The city is working to connect with health professionals and cultural community leaders to accompany police officers on foot patrols.
Ryan How, detachment commander for the Battlefords RCMP, said complex solutions are needed, rather than just increased policing.
"I think everybody's very aware that arresting and charging is not going to be the solution to this," said How.
He said he hopes to increase safety for everyone in the area.
"The goal here is to make the downtown a healthier place to be, a safer place to be for the community and make sure that the people who need help are getting access to it," he said.
The new patrol team will also be using the crime prevention through environmental design (CPTED) model to enhance safety for local business owners. The model is based on the theory that "the proper design and effective use of the built environment can lead to a reduction in the incidence and fear of crime, and an improvement in the quality of life," according to non-profit organization CPTED Canada.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Winnipeg Free Press
25-06-2025
- Winnipeg Free Press
News briefs for Tuesday, June 24, 2025
A collection of breaking news briefs filed on Tuesday, June 24, 2025 7:16 PM St-Pierre-Jolys RCMP are looking for a 17-year-old female who hasn't been seen since early Saturday. RCMP say Kayleigh Plewman left her home, located on Provincial Road 403 in the RM of De Salaberry, at 1:45 a.m. It's believed she is in the Grunthal or Richer area. Mounties and her family are concerned about her well-being. She's described as being 5-7, 140 pounds with blond hair and blue/green eyes. Anyone with information is asked to call the detachment at 204-433-7433, Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-8477, or secure tip online at 3:45 PM A case of salmonella in Manitoba has been linked to salami recalls. The Public Health Agency of Canada said in a news release Tuesday that the Manitoba case is one of 72 laboratory-confirmed cases linked to the outbreak. The vast majority, 57, were in Alberta, while 14 were in Ontario. People became sick between mid-April and mid-June, the release said. Seven people have been hospitalized, and no one has died. The release did not state whether anyone in Manitoba was hospitalized. 'Many people who became sick reported eating salami in prepared sandwiches or purchased from deli counters where the recalled product was served,' the release said. The recalled salami includes Rea brand sweet Genoa (lot Nos. 5035 226 and 5049 226), Rea brand hot Genoa (lots Nos. 5020 228 and 5035 228) and Bona brand mild genova (lot No. 5035 226). The strain associated with the outbreak is resistant to certain antibiotics. More information is available online here. SUPPLIED A UPC code on a package of Rea brand sweet Genoa salami. 2:38 PM Jennifer Botterill is officially a Hockey Hall of Famer. Botterill, a Winnipegger who is one of the most decorated athletes the province of Manitoba ever produced, got the call Tuesday afternoon that she's part of the class of 2025. 'My heart is really full with this honour,' Botterrill said in a statement. 'I appreciate all of the people who have helped me through my career.' Botterill played her minor hockey and ringette in Winnipeg and went on to win three Olympic gold medals and a silver to go along with five gold medals and three silvers at the IIHF women's world championship. Joining her in the player category are fellow female player Brianna Decker, Zdeno Chara, Duncan Keith, Alexander Mogilny and Joe Thornton, while Jack Parker and Daniele Sauvageau were selected in the builder category. The 2025 Hockey Hall of Fame induction celebration is slated for Nov. 10 in Toronto. 1:34 PM The Manitoba government has launched its affordable home energy program, which helps cover the cost of ground-source heat pumps for eligible homeowners. 'Manitobans who heat their homes with electricity could lower their energy bills by up to 30 per cent, approximately $1,000, in the first year,' the province said of the program, delivered through Efficiency Manitoba, in a news release Tuesday. More information is available online here. 11:55 AM Two youths were taken to hospital, one in critical condition, after a two-vehicle crash Monday morning. RCMP were sent to the crash site on Provincial Road 244, near Road 41 North in the Municipality of Norfolk Treherne, at about 11:15 a.m. and found a semi-truck on the shoulder and a utility-task vehicle in a ditch. The initial investigation determined the UTV, driven by a teen boy and with a male youth passenger inside, was headed north when the truck moved into the opposite lane to pass the slow-moving UTV. The UTV made a sudden turn across the road in front of the truck and was hit by the semi, RCMP said in a news release Tuesday. The driver of the UTV was flown to hospital in critical condition by STARS air ambulance, while the other youth was taken to hospital in serious but non-life-threatening condition. Their conditions have since been upgraded to stable, police said. The crash site is roughly nine kilometres north of Notre-Dame-de-Lourdes. Neither youth was wearing a seat belt or helmet, the release said. 11:17 AM A man has been charged after the victim of an attempted carjacking was stabbed outside his home in the Parkland region Saturday. Swan River RCMP were contacted about the incident in the Rural Municipality of Mountain at 6 a.m. The caller said he was awakened by someone outside his home and confronted a stranger sitting in his vehicle. The victim was stabbed during a scuffle, and the other man fled on foot. The victim, who suffered a non-life-threatening injury, was transported to hospital and later released. About 30 minutes after the first call, RCMP were told about a man with the same description trying to steal items from vehicles in Bellsite. A homeowner on Mountain Avenue told officers the man had left a running truck outside his home. Police found a knife inside. A caller later reported a suspicious man being dropped off on Highway 10 near Bellsite that evening, and police arrested a 34-year-old Winnipeg man. He has been charged with multiple offences. 11:03 AM A Saskatoon man has been charged after a Dauphin business was robbed at gunpoint Sunday night. RCMP were sent to the business on Main Street South at about 8:30 p.m. and were told a man with his face covered demanded cash and then ran away. A police dog found a bag in a back lane that contained discarded clothing that matched the description of what the robber wore, RCMP said in a news release Tuesday. Officers arrested a 23-year-old man in a lane behind 6th Avenue Southeast. 10:51 AM Police are alerting the public about a sex offender considered a high risk to reoffend being released from jail again. Winston George Thomas, 48, was released from Headingley Correctional Centre on Tuesday after serving a sentence for three counts of failing to comply with a probation order. He was expected to live in Winnipeg, the Manitoba Integrated High Risk Sex Offender Unit — a joint unit composed of Winnipeg Police Service and RCMP members — said in a news release. Thomas has a lengthy criminal record that includes convictions for sexual assault where the victims were a 13-year-old girl and adult women strangers, assaulting a peace officer with a weapon and numerous breaches of probation and recognizance orders. He will be on supervised probation, with conditions that include a 10 p.m. curfew, until Dec. 23, 2026. 'This information is provided to enable members of the public to take suitable measures to protect themselves. Any form of vigilante activity or other unreasonable conduct directed at Mr. Thomas will not be tolerated,' the release said. Police have warned of his release more than 20 times in the past 15 years, with the last on Aug. 29, 2023.
CTV News
20-06-2025
- CTV News
One dead, three injured in Banff National Park rockslide
One person is dead and three people are in hospital in the aftermath of a rockslide in Banff National Park, and the search for others continues. One person is dead and three people are in hospital in the aftermath of a rockslide in Banff National Park, and the search for others continues. It happened around 1 p.m. on Thursday at Bow Glacier Falls. Parks Canada's Lake Louise Yoho Kootenay Field Unit said the location was 'approximately 37 km north of Lake Louise on the Icefields Parkway (Highway 93 North).' Parks Canada and RCMP issued a joint statement on Thursday night. 'One person was located deceased at the scene. Two individuals were evacuated by STARS air ambulance and one by ground ambulance, and their conditions are unknown at this time,' the statement said. Deadly rockslide in Banff National Park, June 19, 2025 One person died and three others taken to hospital after a rockslide near the Bow Lake Glacier, a popular hiking spot in Banff National Park, on June 19, 2025. (Supplied) STARS air ambulance sent helicopters from Calgary and Edmonton. Thursday evening, STARS said its crews had returned to their respective bases after having transported people from the staging site at the rockslide. 'Each helicopter transported one patient to Foothills Medical Centre in Calgary,' STARS said. One person is dead and three people are in hospital in the aftermath of a rockslide in Banff National Park, and the search for others continues. One person is dead and three people are in hospital in the aftermath of a rockslide in Banff National Park, and the search for others continues. STARS also could not provide the conditions of the patients. Alberta Health Services confirmed the involvement of EMS in the response but likewise could not provide additional information. One person is dead and three people are in hospital in the aftermath of a rockslide in Banff National Park, and the search for others continues. One person is dead and three people are in hospital in the aftermath of a rockslide in Banff National Park, and the search for others continues. Parks Canada and RCMP said they would search to confirm that no other hikers remain missing until dark and then resume at first light. They said anyone missing a loved one should contact Parks Canada's Banff Dispatch at 403-762-1470. 'Parks Canada and RCMP are operating drone searches and dog handlers are assisting when and where it is safe to do so,' the statement said. 'Geotechnical assessments will take place when assessors arrive.' Parks Canada and RCMP said Alpine Club of Canada guests staying at Bow Hut are safe and will be able to exit on schedule. 'Bow Lake is closed to all visitors. A NOTAM (no-fly zone) is in place to ensure public safety and for park operations. Heavy precipitation, including snow, is expected on the Icefields Parkway. Please check the weather forecast and Alberta 511 before travelling,' the statement said. 'Banff National Park remains open and safe to visit. The Icefields Parkway (Highway 93N) remains open with intermittent, short-term traffic stoppages in the vicinity of the incident.' One person is dead and three people are in hospital in the aftermath of a rockslide in Banff National Park, and the search for others continues. One person is dead and three people are in hospital in the aftermath of a rockslide in Banff National Park, and the search for others continues. Dan Shugar, a geomorphologist and associate professor at the University of Calgary, said rockslides are common in terrain such as what's found in that area. 'Bow Glacier Falls is quite a popular hiking spot along the Icefields Parkway between Banff and Jasper,' Shugar said. 'Anyone who's been to that area knows it's extremely steep—Bow Glacier Falls in particular. When you hike there, you do hear lots of rocks tumbling off the waterfalls. 'It appears a pretty large chunk of rock to hikers' right of the falls—maybe 100 or 200 metres to the right—is what collapsed.' But Shugar said it's not so common that rockslides result in injuries or fatalities. He said it's 'always a shock' when they do. 'I doubt there would have been anything to forecast such an event,' he said. One person is dead and three people are in hospital in the aftermath of a rockslide in Banff National Park, and the search for others continues. One person is dead and three people are in hospital in the aftermath of a rockslide in Banff National Park, and the search for others continues. Parks Canada and RCMP offered their condolences in their statement. 'Parks Canada and RCMP are deeply saddened by this tragic incident. Our hearts go out to the friends and families of all involved,' the statement said. One person is dead and three people are in hospital in the aftermath of a rockslide in Banff National Park, and the search for others continues. One person is dead and three people are in hospital in the aftermath of a rockslide in Banff National Park, and the search for others continues. Banff-Kananaskis MLA Sarah Elmeligi posted to social media on Thursday afternoon: 'I am just learning about this tragic event at Bow Falls in Banff National Park. My heart aches every time someone is hurt or worse in our beautiful mountains,' Elmeligi wrote. Edmonton Centre MP and federal cabinet minister Eleanor Olszewski posted, 'My heart is with everyone affected by the rockslide near Bow Glacier Falls in Banff. Grateful to Parks Canada, STARS air ambulance, and all first responders supporting the emergency response.' Premier Danielle Smith also posted: 'I am deeply saddened to learn of the tragic event at Bow Glacier Falls, north of Banff, today,' Smith said. 'We are thinking of all those involved and wishing for their safety as we await further details. 'On behalf of Alberta's government, I also want to offer my most sincere gratitude to the emergency crews including search and rescue teams, and (STARS) for responding quickly.' I am deeply saddened to learn of the tragic event at Bow Glacier Falls, north of Banff, today. We are thinking of all those involved and wishing for their safety as we await further details. On behalf of Alberta's government, I also want to offer my most sincere gratitude to… — Danielle Smith (@ABDanielleSmith) June 19, 2025 Salma Lakhani, Lieutenant Governor of Alberta, posted, 'I am heartbroken to learn about the tragic rockslide at Bow Glacier Falls in Banff today. My deepest condolences to the families and friends of those lost or injured, and grateful for the swift response by (Parks Canada), RCMP, (STARS and) all emergency teams.' And MP and federal cabinet minister Steven Guilbeault also posted: 'I'm aware of the rock slide incident at Bow Glacier Falls in Banff National Park,' he wrote. 'Thank you to the (Parks Canada) visitor safety teams and first responders on the ground. 'My prayers are with everyone affected as we await further details.'
CBC
13-06-2025
- CBC
Former Alberta health agency CEO asks for speedy ruling in lawsuit against government
A former health-care agency leader is asking a judge to deliver a quick decision on her wrongful dismissal lawsuit against the Alberta government, but the province says it will push back. Athana Mentzelopoulos, the former CEO of Alberta Health Services has applied for a summary judgment on the legality of her January firing, which would avoid sending the case to trial. Mentzelopoulos first filed the lawsuit in February, alleging that Adriana LaGrange, the province's health minister at the time, tried to shut down an investigation into various contracts with links to government officials, and then engineered the CEO's dismissal. The claims have sparked multiple investigations, including by the RCMP, the province's auditor general, and a former Manitoba judge hired by the government. Mentzelopolous's latest application, filed in Court of King's Bench in Edmonton this week, alleges LaGrange called a meeting to try to have the AHS board fire Mentzelopolous, but some directors refused. Mentzelopoulos says in a sworn affidavit she believes her claims will be confirmed by former board members if the court compels them to testify under oath as part of the application. "I was told that when Minister LaGrange was asked why she wanted me terminated, she could give no substantive reason and gave none," she said. Mentzelopolous alleges that Andre Tremblay, who was on the board and the deputy minister of health at the time, was then directed by LaGrange to fire her. "I had only positive performance reviews. To my knowledge there was nothing negative at all on my personnel file up to and including the day my employment was improperly terminated by Mr. Tremblay acting without AHS authority," Mentzelopolous said. Mentzelopolous said by directing Tremblay, LaGrange overstepped the authority of AHS directors. Maddison McKee, LaGrange's press secretary in the new ministry of primary and preventative health services, said in a statement the reasons for the former AHS CEO's dismissal are clearly outlined in the government's statement of defence. "The government will be vigorously opposing the former CEO's most recent application as it is legally baseless and contains a litany of misinformation and false claims." The entire board was dismissed soon after Mentzelopoulos was fired. In a statement of defence filed in March, the government said Mentzelopolous was fired not for investigating contracts, but for being an "alarming" failure at her job. It also alleged Mentzelopolous was stifling mandated health-care reform in order to retain the power and "personal prestige" of her position. LaGrange's statement said proper procedures were followed and that weeks prior to Mentzelopolous being dismissed, the AHS board chair signed off on the decision. Premier Danielle Smith's United Conservative government has been aggressively restructuring the public health-care system, establishing four separate health-care ministries along with four new sector-specific agencies. Once the provincial health authority, AHS is being reduced to a hospital services provider. LaGrange's defence called Mentzelopolous' account a "dramatic tale and false narrative" meant to squeeze more money out of the government on top of an annual salary approaching $600,000. Mentzelopoulos was fired one year into a four-year contract. She is seeking $1.7 million in lost pay and damages, while LaGrange is asking that the suit be dismissed. None of the allegations from either side have been proven in court. In a March statement, Mentzelopolous said "an army of lawyers" had been hired to defend the government. "I am worried there's a strategy to try to bring me to my knees financially, so I hope we can skip oral questions and proceed directly to trial," she said at the time.
