The next community meeting, focused on the Wallace Street neighbourhood in Wallaceburg, is set for November 15.
The Chatham-Kent Police Community Mobilization group spearheaded a meeting back on October 21 at the Moose Lodge, which the organizers deemed as successful.
“The weather was poor to say the least,” said Marjorie Crew, coordinator of the group. “It was pretty positive with the neighbours wishing to have another meeting to sit and discuss direction and options.”
The meeting will be held at the Wallaceburg Museum on King Street at 7:15 p.m.
The Chatham-Kent Police Community Mobilization group has worked with communities and neighbourhoods in the past to help them form associations.
Some issues brought up by those in attendance, included:
– Drugs in the neighbourhood
– Problem houses
– Landlords living outside the community
– Lack of development of a trail along the Sydenham River
– Garbage build-up along the river
– Underdeveloped space
– Negative reputation and perception
Crew said in her experience, when associations are formed in neighbourhoods, positive things start happening.
After getting approval from the Ministry as a pilot project, Const. Lynette Hodder, a coordinator with the group, said the Chatham-Kent Police Service decided to start the with the neighbourhood association in Chatham.
“We were able to rally a number of service agencies around the table and we talked about the area, what we could do, how can we find out if there is an actual interest there in the neighbourhood, to get them together, to find out what they want in their neighbourhood and rally everybody and see what we can do.”
Hodder said the Chatham group has thrived since they started, with leaders stepping up, neighbourhood becoming active, people becoming friends and plans being created to further improve the community.
“We can help do that here,” Hodder said. “If there is interest.”
Crew said she encourages people to come with their ideas for the neighbourhood and to come with an open mind.
“Come and tell us what you see and what you think you need,” she said. “If you don’t want to do anything, we are fine, but we are here to show you how to do it if you want to develop an association. Sometimes it is just telling people what is there and what supports are there if you want to do something. We know that this works.”
The meeting on November 15 is open to the public.
