4-The Canadian Champion, Tuesday, June 15, 2004 MilonProactive partnerships ww.ifo.a kov T-bUnn cirnw. )TICE 0F PUBLIC INFORMATION CENTRE -La __ c SE %y YY VV L. into dicrity Agai By HOWARD MOZEL Special ta The Champion Last Tuesday's speech by Halton Regional Police Chiief Ean Algar to mcm- bers of the Interfaith Developinent Education Association (IDEA) was living proof that the principles of both parties are operating squarely on the saine page. Chief Algar's talk, 'Policing in a Multi- Dimensional Society', toucheti on the necti for proactive partnerships anti co-operation froin a host of individuals anti groups if Halton is to remain the sale, tolerant coin- munity it's always been. Accortiing ta IDEA spokesperson Glynis Maxwell, the region is "trymng to grow into its diversity" so working hanti-in-glove with police ta recognize anti ameliorate any m'ùsuntierstantiings or potential prob- lems is clearly jutiiius. IDEA is a group of people of different faiths, wbich promotes interfaitb dialogue anti strives ta educate the community about peace anti social justice. This kinti of thinking is welcomed by Chief Algar, who saiti prior ta last Tluestiay's talk at Oakville's Sbaarei-Beth El Cangregatian that tiespite world events that cause problema ta trickle down ta the local level, "Halton is a coinmunity that pulls together." Key ta this, he continueti, is flot waiting for any simmening uncertainties ta bail over by building bridges ta various con- stituencies beyond any us-and-them stereatype. Doing s0 isn't always easy - anti Tuestiay's turnout was small - but the power of the ripple effect can neyer be dis- counteti. *'These are people who aren't strangers when 1 leave," saiti Chief Algar, who began his speech alutiing to the huge changes Haltan has untiergane in the last several decades. 'Camparet t what seems like just yestertiay, totiay we live in a warlti af camplexities beyonti what 1 caulti have imagineti when grawing up here in Haltan." As a result, the jab af law enfarcement, anti especially the raIe af police chief, has changeti immeasurably, anti aut af necessi- ty they must deal with everything fram polities, warlti events anti technalogy ta immigration, ecanamies anti tiversity. One clear factor feetiing inta the latter issue is population grawth, which sees a conrespontiing increase in police calîs for service, matie ail the mare complex by ever-ehanging legislatian, fiscal restraints, warkload increases anti much more. Atiting a variety of nuances ta this is Halton's immigrant populace which, accortiing ta 2001 census data, stands at i 83,250 people. Halton is also home ta 80,000 first generation Canadians hl  tc region's visi- ble minority pop- ulation grows by approximately 2,000 people a 1ycar_- many from Ean Algar cauntries other than traditional sources of immigrants. As anc can casily imagine, Chief Algar continueti, ail this has matie Halton home ta people of myriati faitha anti totiay it baasts many churches, three masques, twa gurtiwaras, a Hindu temple anti a syna- gogue. "Effeetively policing a multi-dimension- al society la no easy task," saiti Chief Algar. "It is complex anti requires constant attention, effort anti review." Unfortunately barriers anti challenges anise, saiti Chief Algar, anc of wbich is Uic fear of immigrants frara countrtes wha have suffereti abuse anti worse at the hantis of police. "Movement towartis a solution is slow anti sometimes even generational," be saiti. "Police neeti to be seen in sincere, positive interactions wiUi this segment of society." Steps Uiat have been taken inclutie offi- cers attending special evcnts, thc active recruitinent of personnel with new Ian- guage skills, forging partnerships with ares multicultural agencies anti putting a premi- um an effective communication of cvcry kinti. "Meeting the neetis of our diverse coin- munity has been a priority for me as chief anti I amn prauti of Uic many initiatives that have been implementeti," saiti Chief Algar, wha mentianedthUi appointment in 2001 of Uic service's fust tiiversity officer anti sub- sequent expansion of district tiiversity teamns. That saiti, Chief Algar explaineti that it's not ail a ane-way street anti that thc help of community leatiers ia vital. "It's ail about partnerships anti getting Uic best frain your cammunity." Aceording ta Ms Maxwell, IDEA7s roots extenti back 30 years ta Uic Burlingtan chapter of social justice initiative * 1 Days for Warlti Developinent'. The "farwart-thning" graup operateti for 10 ycars but in 1984, its members - who wantcdti t include more than Chnistîans anti spenti more timne tackling a number of issues - createti IDEA. "What we do la cxtremcly important," raid Ms Maxwell. belI'occhio gifts and good things AAWIVRSARY SALM ONE DMY ONIYY' Wednesday, June i6thl Oam - 9pmni 2 5% off Everything -, QuIls, duvets andi fagrances *Antique reroductions e Home and garden accents 500 Steeles Avénue East, Milton 905-693-9888 i 1 - 1