Investing in a safer tomorrow

Calgary Police Foundation's at-risk youth outreach program achieving positive results

Jordan was a tough kid, the kind of kid who disrupted his class and bullied his classmates. But what really concerned Jordan’s elementary school teacher was the way he behaved after these incidents.

When the teacher tried to talk to him, Jordan would lie under his desk in the fetal position or dart out of his classroom and climb a tree in the schoolyard. Staff at the school knew something was gravely wrong – so they made a call that would change Jordan’s life.

That call was to the Multi-Agency School Support Teams (MASST), an initiative operated by the Calgary Police Foundation. These teams, consisting of social workers and specially trained police officers, can be called in when a child is identified as being at risk of victimization and/or becoming involved in criminal behaviour.

MASST is one of four community initiatives operated by the Calgary Police Foundation, a registered charity aimed at treating the underlying causes of criminal behaviour through education, prevention, and intervention among children, youth, and families. It’s an ambitious mandate that’s achieving positive results, thanks in part to a $1-million investment from Enbridge, one of the founding sponsors of the Calgary Police Foundation.

“Enbridge is helping to keep our community safe,” says Janet Pieschel, the Calgary Police Foundation’s executive director. “The impact we are creating for our children and families could not have happened without (this) investment.”

Enbridge’s contribution – in the form of a five-year sponsorship, announced in 2013 – has been divided between the MASST program and three other Calgary Police Foundation early-youth intervention programs.

One powerful new initiative is the Calgary Child Advocacy Centre, a clearinghouse of support services for kids who have suffered abuse. The centre houses four agencies – Calgary and Area Child and Family Services, Calgary Crown Prosecutors, Calgary Police Service, and Alberta Health Services – under one roof, in an environment designed to put traumatized children at ease.

The Calgary Police Foundation also offers two programs aimed at education and prevention. The YouthLink Calgary Police Interpretive Centre helps kids aged 10 to 14 make positive decisions around violence, gangs, substance abuse, and online safety. Meanwhile, the Calgary Police Cadet Corps offers police cadet training exercises and community volunteering, fostering trust in the police service.

At the heart of each of these initiatives, says Pieschel, is the desire to create a safer, healthier Calgary for all its citizens. It’s a mandate that hits home at Enbridge, which has made a commitment to building safe, vibrant communities.

“We are proud to invest in organizations such as the Calgary Police Foundation that share our core values of integrity, safety and respect,” says D’Arcy Levesque, Vice President of Enterprise Communications, Brand and Community Partners. “Together we can help build stronger and safer communities to ensure our future generations will become valuable contributing members of our community.”