Minister's Award for Leadership in Crime Prevention

Minister's Award for Leadership in Crime Prevention Past Recipients

2011 Recipients

A number of Nova Scotians were recognized at the 25th Annual Atlantic Coordinating Committee on Crime Prevention & Community Safety Conference for their efforts to prevent crime and make communities safer. Minister of Justice and Attorney General Ross Landry presented the Justice Minister's Award for Leadership in Crime Prevention at the conference in Halifax.

Awards were presented in six categories including individual, youth, community group or organization, community policing, media and business community.

A committee reviewed the nominations and selected the seven recipients based on commitment to their local issue, empowering their community, leadership by encouraging and educating others, working together to build partnerships, and innovative, inclusive and flexible.

Media Category

As a community leader, 989X FM Radio was an instrumental partner in the 2010 Domestic Violence public awareness campaign undertaken by the Antigonish RCMP to encourage first-time victims of domestic violence to report the assault. The station aired the public service announcements over an extended period of time on a schedule that would best reach potential victims. The success of their work was evident when a front-line police officer reported that a victim who had been abused for a number of years, heard the Public Service Announcement and finally had the courage to come forward and file a complaint with the police.

Youth Category

In 2006, Justin Fenton participated in the Yarmouth-based program, “A School for Warriors Without Weapons”. After participating in this program, Mr. Fenton began his journey to help other youth at risk. His work includes the creation of the Yarmouth Youth Centre, being a mediator for Restorative Justice, writing for Teens Now Talk Magazine, initiating the “Four Nations of Talent” to celebrate youth and community talent; and most recently, as a volunteer facilitator with Heartwood Centre for Community Youth Development. Mr. Fenton exemplifies leadership, dedication and commitment to mentoring youth at risk.

Bria Miller is a leader among her peers at Yarmouth Consolidated Memorial High School. She volunteers as a student Case Worker leading 15 other student volunteers who deliver an alternative to out-of-school suspensions for fellow students. Ms. Miller is a key player in fostering relationships between at-risk youth, the school and the community. She is also an advocate for the Tri-County Restorative Justice program. The relationships she has built with community agencies, youth addiction services, mental health, Tri-County Women’s Center, Support Housing for Homeless Youth and local media are also part of her success story and further advance her work with youth.

Business Category

Halifax Shopping Centre is an excellent example of a business working diligently to make a difference in their community for over the past decade. The Shopping Centre’s Teen Advisory Board engages youth to give back to the community. The Youth Drop in Centre provides a safe and productive environment inside the Shopping Centre for youth to “hang out”. But their work does not stop here. The Halifax Shopping Centre Cop Shop program inspired other retailers across Canada to establish the same program, now operating in eight cities across Canada. The generosity of Operation Warmth helps over 500 youth purchase new winter coats.

Community Category

The Association for Safer Cape Breton Communities provides programs and resources that offer solutions to research-based, crime-related issues facing their communities. The association partners with media, police, youth organizations, Cape Breton Regional municipality and the Housing Authority, to name a few. These partnerships have made a significant impact in the community by tackling crime head on and providing tangible solutions to the difficulties facing Cape Breton residents.

The Demetreous Lane Tenants Association is committed to bettering the lives of its residents in North End Dartmouth. The programs offered by the Association have engaged individuals in the community, helped them to develop life skills, and opened doors to positive opportunities. Since the establishment of the Demetreous Lane Tenants Association, crime rates in the community have dropped and residents are more engaged in community activities.

Policing Category

RCMP Officer, Constable Susan Foote of Lunenburg County established programs that help bridge gaps between the Acadian First Nations Community, youth and police. She has also worked hard to foster independence among senior citizens through education and awareness programs. Constable Foote, may be found teaching seniors how to protect themselves personally and financially; or on an overnight camping trip with members from the Gold River Community, celebrating the end of a three day leadership development workshop for those participants.

Constable Holly Thomas of Halifax Regional Police is instrumental to improving the quality of life for those who live, work and visit the Uniacke Square community. She is committed to the growth and development of the Uniacke Square Community in downtown Halifax. Constable Thomas was the driving force behind a new sound studio in the community that provides youth with an opportunity to express themselves in a positive, creative way, which in turn is building skills and self esteem for the youth involved. Constable Thomas continues to be a mentor and tutor in the community.

Constable Kenneth MacDonald of New Glasgow Police Service is an Officer who has dedicated most of his policing career to community development through crime prevention in the Pictou County area. His dedication was instrumental in the success of numerous crime prevention programs and partnerships between New Glasgow Police Service and the community at large. Under Constable MacDonald’s leadership, the first Police Youth Crime Prevention Training Camp in Canada was developed.

Individual Category

Beatrice LeBlanc has spent her entire career advocating for victims of family violence. She is the founding member of numerous organizations that continue to be fundamental in preventing crime. Ms. LeBlanc is recognized on a national scale for her expertise and knowledge in the area of family violence. For the majority of her career, Ms. LeBlanc served as the Executive Director of the Cape Breton Transition House. While she has retired from this position, she continues to be an advocate for crime prevention and her work in the prevention of family violence has left a lasting legacy for Nova Scotia.

2010 Recipients

A number of Nova Scotians were recognized at the Crime Prevention Symposium held on March 30, 2010, for their efforts to prevent crime and make communities safer.

Minister of Justice and Attorney General Ross Landry presented the Justice Minister's Award for Leadership in Crime Prevention at a crime symposium in Halifax.

"These awards are recognition for those who are making significant contributions to creating a safer Nova Scotia," said Mr. Landry. "It is an honour to present awards to people who are not only leaders, but also committed to empowering their communities to be leaders in crime prevention."

Awards were presented in six categories including individual, youth, community group or organization, community policing, media and business community.

The individual award was presented to Donald Clairmont, Halifax, who has dedicated over 50 years to research, consultation and teaching in the justice field. Mr. Clairmont conducted extensive research in the areas of African Nova Scotians, Aboriginal Policing and the community base policing model. He was also a driving force behind Halifax Regional Municipality's Mayor's Initiative on Crime Reduction and Prevention.

Ross Heimpel, Halifax, was the winner of the youth award. He is a member of Youth on the Radar, a crime prevention program that connects youth, the arts and the community. His work was showcased at the 2009 Viewfinders Atlantic Film Festival and led to him co-directing a video with HeartWood Centre for Community Youth Development.

Parents Against Drugs, a volunteer-based group in Eskasoni that empowers community members to take a stand against illegal drugs and substance abuse, was the recipient of the community group award. Marches are held in the community to raise awareness and support. The success of the group has lead to the program being expanded to other First Nations communities from Cape Breton to Pictou Landing.

The policing award recipient was deputy chief John Collyer from the Bridgewater Police Service. Mr. Collyer volunteers as vice president of the South Shore Big Brothers, Big Sisters board of directors and school mentor for youth at risk. He implemented the Kids N Kops program that offers youth at risk a one-week summer camp.

The winner of the media category was Gary Nickerson of CJLS Radio, covering Yarmouth, Shelburne, and Digby counties. Mr. Nickerson was a major contributor in forming the senior safety program in Clare. He is dedicated to assisting police with requests that require informing the public.

There was a tie in the business award category, so two winners were named. Emera was presented an award for being a strong supporter of Healing the Bruises, an Alice Housing program that is therapeutic for children, teens and mothers. The second recipient was Henry's Cameras. As part of Halifax Regional Municipality's firearm amnesty, Henry's Cameras offered a free digital camera for every firearm turned in and provided all of the advertising to support this initiative. The campaign, Pixels for Pistols, resulted in 1074 firearms being turned in between Nov. 2 and Nov. 20.

2009 Recipients

Recipients of the 2009 Minister’s Award for Leadership in Crime Prevention include:

Rebecca Moore (Youth)
Paula Marshall (Individual)
Community Partnership on Drug Abuse (Community Group/Organization)
Cpl. Grant Webber & Cst. Randy Wood (Police)
Blair Rhodes (Media)
Paul Gates (Business Community)

Read more about the past recipients here, in the 2009 Annual Symposium recap.