Crime Prevention and Community Safety

Community Services

Values, Influences and Peers (V.I.P.):

H.W. Burgess in Wallaceburg recently celebrated their VIP Graduation.
Cst. Todd Trahan (first row, far right) was the instructor.

V.I.P. is a program that was cooperatively developed by the Ontario Ministry of Education and the Ministry of the Solicitor General in 1982. This program is taught locally at the grade five level. The program has a tremendous impact in building a positive community - police relationship with students and their teachers.

The main focus is on mentoring students so that they have a positive self-image and can make good choices despite experiencing negative peer pressure. VIP is an awareness program, which is meant to be preventative and proactive in nature.

Harwich Raleigh Public School student, Reidun Garapick won the V.I.P.
design contest for 2007-2008 school year.
The Blenheim Optimist Club and Chatham Optimist Club recognized the efforts
of the grade five student with a plaque and V.I.P. t-shirt with her winning
design illustrated on it.