Dauphin was included in a recent $1.1 million provincial investment meant to strengthen community safety in several municipalities across Manitoba as part of its Safer Neighborhoods, Safer Downtowns Public Safety Strategy.

In what Mayor David Bosiak referred to as a pleasant surprise, the City will receive $200,000 to help support community safety initiatives and enhance security at municipal buildings,

“It appears that the government program that they had put in last year’s budget in regards to providing grants to businesses for safety equipment might have been undersubscribed,” Bosiak said.

“So the province took what was left over in that program budget line from last year and, based on conversations they had with several communities, redistributed that money.”

Bosiak believes the grant is a result of conversations city officials have had with Justice minister Matt Wiebe regarding safety concerns in the community.

“We’re not immune. We absolutely know that we’ve got some problems downtown in particular, but in the community in general with some homelessness, with some people with mental illness or some drug-related issues,” Bosiak said.

“It’s a problem. We know that, and we’re trying to do whatever we can within our jurisdiction to address it.”

While the money  will be used to help support existing efforts, such as the anti graffiti program through the purchase of supplies and equipment, it will also help to support a Community Safety Patrol pilot program, which will launch soon.

“Have qualified people interact with people who might be seen as either loitering or maybe, causing minor disturbances, or just hanging around too long someplace, and ask them what do you need? How are you doing? Is there anything we can help with?” Bosiak said.

“We looked at Portage and we looked at Thompson, who have community safety officer programs and they’re expensive. But Thompson and Portage have both said it’s helped them.”

Bosiak said upset city residents often advocate for simply removing problem people from the community, or at the very least, from the public’s view. While that might be appealing for some, it is not a solution for what is a complex problem, he said.

Read the full story in this week’s edition of the Dauphin Herald.