Conference to examine crime prevention, safe city strategies

Patterns of crime and socio-economic conditions, links between youth mental illness and criminal behaviour, and factors that contribute to Mississauga's reputation as one of the safest cities in Canada will be among the topics discussed at the first annual Community Crime Prevention Conference on Saturday, Sept. 11, 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., at River Grove Community Centre, 5800 River Grove Ave., Mississauga.

Safe City Mississauga and the University of Toronto Mississauga will host the full-day event featuring a broad range of speakers with law enforcement, justice, academic and crime prevention backgrounds. Common risk factors for crime, ways to reduce crime and prevent victimization, and strategies to engage government and other organizations will be discussed, and the results of the 11th annual safest city report will be announced at the conference's conclusion.

It is extremely important that the City of Mississauga invest smartly in crime prevention and crime reduction, says Teresa Burgess-Ogilvie, executive director of Safe City Mississauga. While Mississauga has an enviable reputation when it comes to safety, we need to ensure the city remains a community where people feel safe and secure as they live, work, learn and play. Our conference is the first step towards creating an action plan that will help us reduce crime more effectively.

A list of the speakers and topics: 

• Professor Irvin Waller of criminology at the University of Ottawa and author of Less Law, More Order: how investments in services for women, at-risk youth, families and neighbourhoods are effective in preventing violence, how leading jurisdictions succeed in crime prevention advocacy
• Christiane Sadeler, executive director of the Waterloo Region Crime Prevention Council and co-chair of the National Municipal Network: strategic planning for crime prevention
• Dana Wilson of geography at U of T Mississauga: research that explores social determinants of crime (demographic characteristics and socio-economic conditions) throughout Peel region, connection to local crime prevention initiatives
• Nicola Epprecht, regional director of the National Crime Prevention Centre: proven and promising crime prevention projects being implemented across Canada
• Dax Urbszat of psychology at U of T Mississauga: links between mental health issues and criminal and anti-social behaviour in young offenders, possible solutions
• Len Paris, manager of campus police services at U of T Mississauga: models and promising programs for campus safety, crime prevention including community partnerships and involvement
• Surrinder Aujla, federal Crown, Public Prosecution Service of Canada: federal laws, sentencing and crime data to inform and support municipal crime prevention policy and practice
• Constable Tom McKay of Peel Regional Police: Mississauga's success in achieving a safe city, ways to maintain status

Conference sponsors are: Bell, Vantage Publishing Group, Rogers TV, The Ontario Trillium Foundation, City of Mississauga, Mississauga Board of Trade, Peel Regional Police and Peel Police Services Board. Tickets are $125. To register or to learn more, visit www.safecitymississauga.on.ca

*Free parking is available at the River Grove Community Centre.

MEDIA CONTACT:
Jane Stirling 
Marketing and Communications
University of Toronto Mississauga
905-569-4350
jane.stirling@utoronto.ca

Michael Daoud
Pink Elephant Consulting Ltd.
3464 Semenyk Court Suite 101
905-595-5028 ext 227
Mdaoud@pinkelephantconsulting.com