In early July, the positive ticketing initiative was launched by the collaboration of Chestermere RCMP, Synergy, Stepping Stones to Mental Health, Alberta Addictions and Mental Health Association. This program was designed to reward the youth in our community for doing positive things and setting a good example. The RCMP were provided positive tickets and gift cards to local businesses for the purpose of handing them out when they saw young people of our city doing something positive – like obeying school and playground zone speeds, wearing a helmet while bike riding, or picking up liter in a public place.
As another reward, anyone who received a positive ticket from the Chestermere RCMP and completed the survey was entered to win 2 tickets to the Sunday Lineup at X-fest 2015.
On Friday August 28, 2015, Sgt. Mark Wielgosz, Christy Redl – Youth Development Coordinator and Jorge Flores from Synergy and Steve Sedley, BSW RSW – Child & Adolescent Outreach Worker with Addictions & Mental Health Services Strathmore/Chestermere gathered at the Chestermere RCMP Detachment and drew the first prize winner.
Brady Sommerfeld is the winner of the first draw for Chestermere RCMP Positive Ticketing Program. Brady received a positive ticket this summer for practicing safe driving with his learner’s license. For setting a good example in Chestermere and making his community a safer place, Brady received a Tim Horton’s gift card for $5 and his name was entered into a draw for 2 tickets to the Sunday show at X-fest.
Throughout the summer as the positive ticketing initiative spread through the city, lots of comments came to the organizers about how it was being received in the community.
“My 6 year old daughter and my 12 year old nephew were pulled over for wearing their helmets. They used their gift cards for Dairy Queen Blizzards. Thank You So Much!! You guys are doing such a great thing!! Really Cool!! My little girl is really hoping for an IPadMini…haha…Kids!! Thanks Again!!” said one parent.
An 18 year old Chestermere resident had this to say, “I find this to be a great way to bring our youths together but also to make them better people! With myself having a strong interest in police work this helps me with grow as a person but also have something to show for the hard work I put into things”.
“I feel like it will help my community be a friendlier place” – 10 year old
“Receiving this Positive Ticketing program Ticket has made me feel like I play an important role in my community. Knowing that my simple act of picking up the phone and asking for assistance has made a difference in my city, gives me great pride. It also gives me the encouragement to act upon further situations like this one if the circumstances are right. I would also like to say that I was very impressed with the response time in which the Police arrived, however I must say I was a little disappointed with the time it took to initially get in contact with the Officers. I understand that the police may have been busy, but the situation could have been worse, and if you so then who knows what the consequences may have been. A salute to you, for making our Community’s a better and safer place”, explained a 14 year old (and parent).
Synergy released a statement saying, “All the youth who received positive tickets this summer were entered into the draw if they completed the short online survey found inside the ticket. We appreciate all the feedback we’ve received through the survey as it will help us to continue this program in the future”.
