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DISTRICT OF KENT City council voted unanimously on the evening of Monday, November 8th, 2004 to launch a program that involves district workers partnering with the RCMP in the prevention and reduction of crime in Kent.

This is about keeping our community safe, said Mayor Sylvia Prangler. Extra eyes in the community are always a good thing and district workers are uniquely positioned to see things on the job that are important for the RCMP to know.

The RCMP endorsed the program in a letter to mayor and council dated November 5, 2004.

The program was presented to council by district finance clerk and CUPE local 458 district of Kent vice president, Cheryl Bourel. City Watch is designed to prevent and reduce crime by encouraging municipal workers to be alert to activities they might witness in the course of their jobs, explained Bourel.

There are no direct costs for the District of Kent associated with this program.

On behalf of mayor and council and the CUPE members she represents, Bourel will be arranging a date with the RCMP for program training. District workers will be trained on identifying suspicious and/or criminal activity and how to work in concert with the RCMP to prevent and reduce crime.

City of Chilliwack adopted the City Watch program earlier this year and joined the ranks of almost a dozen municipalities in BC keeping their communities safer through this partnership. The Village of Harrison Hot Springs have also expressed their intention to join forces with their village workers in implementing this program.

The District of Kent includes the communities of Agassiz, Harrison Mills, and Ruby Creek.

CUPE 458 represents city, district and village workers throughout Fraser Valley. There are 25 district of Kent workers of which almost half provide outdoor services like park and road maintenance that will be involved in the City Watch program.

More information about the City Watch program can be found at http://www.cupe.bc.ca/279.

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Contacts:
Mayor Sylvia Prangler, District of Kent, 604-796-2235;
Cheryl Bourel, Vice President CUPE 458 District of Kent, 604-796-2235;
Diane Kalen, CUPE Communications, 604-291-1940 (ext. 240).