Kenora Collaborates with CPTED Expert to Launch Local Neighbourhood Empowerment Team

The City of Kenora is pleased to announce that Steve Woolrich has been actively engaging with the community, walking the streets, and meeting with local businesses to analyze community safety issues in the Harbourtown Centre. Woolrich is currently undertaking a three-month residency, which concludes July 31.

Woolrich has been utilizing Crime Prevention through Environmental Design (CPTED) methodologies since 1999, having been trained by world-leading expert Timothy Crow. “CPTED is a great tool for homeowners, businesses, and corporations” says Woolrich. “It focuses on improving the built environment, reducing fear and incidents of crime, while improving overall quality of life”. 

In addition to CPTED, Woolrich uses a full spectrum approach fusing together best practices from CPTED, Placemaking, and Healthy Built Environment tools. 

Under Woolrich's guidance, the City of Kenora recently launched its Neighbourhood Empowerment Team (NET), comprising 18 local participants including City staff, community members, an O.P.P. Officer, and local business owners. Starting Thursday, July 4, 2024, NET will undergo a three-day training course facilitated by Woolrich. The team composition was carefully selected to ensure balanced representation. 

This training will help build capacity and expertise among City staff and various Community members. It will include classroom sessions followed by practical fieldwork downtown to assess identified problematic areas as highlighted by the public and O.P.P.

Woolrich has committed to continuing his collaboration with NET beyond his residency until year-end. An online training portal will facilitate ongoing connection and skill development among Woolrich, other experts, and the City of Kenora.

At the conclusion of his residency, Woolrich's findings and recommendations will be shared with the Crime Prevention and Community Well-Being (CPCWB) Advisory Committee. These insights will inform the development of a community safety and well-being plan, expected to be presented to Council for approval in December 2024.

Reflecting on his initial impressions of Kenora and public reception, Woolrich notes the city's friendliness and welcoming atmosphere, what he’s observing is “typical of what most cities are seeing”. He observes that Kenora's proactive approach to addressing community safety issues sets it apart from other cities he has worked with, by stating “the City has decided to address the issue, and at a good stage before escalates. It is manageable at this point. City leaders have embraced the idea of the NET being their eyes and ears, as it relates to community safety. This is not always the case in other cities I have worked with.”

Kyle Attanasio, Chief Administrative Officer, emphasizes, “A key element of Steve’s residency was to embed CPTED principles into the City’s day-to-day work and the establishment of the Neighbourhood Empowerment Team (NET) will ensure that these principles live with us long after Steve departs.” 

Woolrich values the engagement of Kenora residents, recognizing them as the true experts on their community and neighborhoods. 

For those interested in learning more about Woolrich's work, he will be presenting at an upcoming Speaker Series at the Muse on July 14, 2024, from 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. The Speaker Series will explore how the Arts can contribute to community safety and well-being by fostering creativity to transform our built environments into vibrant and safe downtown areas that attract people. 

Discover more about this Speaker Series here.

Media Contact

Mya Horley, Senior Communications Advisor
mhorley@kenora.ca
807-467-2006