Pubdate: Wed, 12 Sep 2007 Source: Regina Leader-Post (CN SN) Copyright: 2007 The Leader-Post Ltd. Contact: http://www.canada.com/regina/leaderpost/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/361 Author: Pamela Cowan Cited Report: http://www.cwf.ca/V2/cnt/publication_200709101129.php GANG GROWTH 'RAMPANT' Gang recruitment is rampant in Regina. That's one of the findings in Hard Times: A Portrait of Street Level Social Problems in Western Canada. The Canada West Foundation report notes that in Regina: "Gang recruitment is rampant and children as young as nine years old are recruited to become drug runners." Researchers surveyed community associations, health centres, outreach workers, police, social workers and academics about homelessness, street prostitution, gangs, street drug activity, panhandling and graffiti in the Greater Vancouver region, Calgary, Edmonton, Regina, Saskatoon and Winnipeg. Fifty-nine face-to-face interviews and electronic surveys were done in Regina, said foundation director Robert Roach. The growing problem with gangs is multifaceted, Roach said. "We know that part of it is issues with poverty and fitting in," he said. "Young people are attracted to gangs because it provides a sense of belonging and it seems a way to make life better, but of course it doesn't turn out that way." Street gang activity was reported to be a large challenge in Regina, Saskatoon and Winnipeg and, although it was identified as less of an issue in the other cities, it was seen as a growing problem. Drugs are also a major issue in Regina. "It was thought to be more of a problem now than five years ago," Roach said. "They did point out that Regina doesn't have an obvious drug market like in Vancouver or Calgary. It tends to take place in these problem houses in Regina whereas in Vancouver you can go into the Downtown Eastside and see a lot of drug dealing right on the street or in Calgary, in some parts of the downtown, it's an open thing." Homelessness is less of an issue in Regina than in cities such as Vancouver, Calgary and Edmonton. The report notes it's more common to have two or three generations living in the same house in Regina than it is to find someone sleeping on the street. All six cities stressed the visible problems are the "tip of the iceberg" and the problems tend to be concentrated in older inner-city neighbourhoods. Regina's problem areas are North Central and the Core, but Roach noted that the people working in those areas feel positive change is possible. "They feel there is a strong sense of community and they haven't given up, but there's also a sense of frustration with the Core neighbourhood and North Central, that the problems, in the past at least, would be addressed in one of those neighbourhoods and it'd get pushed to another one," he said. "Now there seems to be some optimism that they're addressing it more holistically so it's not just pushing it back and forth." The article published in Maclean's in January labelling Regina's North Central as "Canada's worst neighbourhood" didn't help Regina's image, Roach said. "That's tough to live down," he said. "They're hard at work, progress is being made and there are some tough issues but that perception is probably not helping. On the other hand, it might be a spur to address these things." Mayor Pat Fiacco agrees social issues, such as addiction, must be addressed. "A number of years ago, we created the Regina and Area Drug Strategy and that has made a big difference," he said. "We've got a long ways to go, but it's there and it's forcing the provincial government to pay attention and to make sure that we have the proper facilities to deal with young people who are facing these addictions. "The Safer Communities and Neighbourhoods Act, which the provincial government put in place, and the Housing Standards Enforcement Team that the City of Regina put in place, in conjunction with the Inner City Community Partnership -- those are all making positive differences." He noted that crime has decreased by 25 per cent in North Central. When Sandy Wankel began working as the North Central Family Centre's executive director seven years ago, she was appalled that many gang members were "just children." "A lot of times it's in the same families -- especially in the gang recruitment," Wankel said. "And the gangs are behind the prostitution and keeping the girls hooked on drugs. You even see spouses putting their wives and girlfriends on the street. That's why it's so important that we have preventative programs that they can get into and mentoring and people coming into their lives to steer them straight and tell them that they're on the wrong path ... There should be a place on every street corner." Since the Maclean's article, Wankel said many corporate people have gotten involved in the centre. Fiacco believes the article angered the corporate community and spurred them into action. "I'm not giving Maclean's credit for anything, but I'll give credit to citizens of our community, to the corporate community, to the Sandy Wankels of this world," Fiacco said. "To those individuals who have stepped up to the challenge and have said that we have an obligation to make sure that everybody is able to live a great quality life. It's not going to happen overnight but we've got to be part of it." - --- MAP posted-by: Derek