NEWS: ROOTS OF YOUTH VIOLENCE
The Roots of Youth Violence by Martin Zhang
Ontario is currently conducting a review of the roots of youth violence. Thunder Bay is one of the five cities (in addition to Hamilton, Kitchener, Ottawa, and Toronto) selected for community consultations on this growing concern. The Regional Multicultural Youth Council (RMYC) is co-ordinating local efforts to gather information for a report to be submitted to Premier Dalton McGuinty in May 2008.
We were privileged to have former chief justice and attorney general Roy McMurtry, and former Speaker of the Ontario Legislature Alvin Curling in the city on November 26 and 27. They were appointed by the Premier last June to lead the review. The RMYC organized a meeting at City Hall for the co-chairs to meet with our civic leaders, the Police Chief, and representatives of the First Nations. We also arranged consultations with the Lakehead Public Schools, Thunder Bay Catholic District School Board, and the Northern Nishnanwbe Education Council.
I facilitated a special session with the co-chairs at the Multicultural Youth Centre. A select group of adults and youths were invited to discuss the kind of youth violence in our schools and in the community, the root causes, and solutions to the problem. I was very impressed with the ideas shared, and suggestions brought forward. I believe that Mr. Curling and Mr. McMurtry gained an insight into what is happening here, our unique situation, and what we feel needs to be done.
But, since only a few people could participate in the focus group, we welcome more ideas to prevent youth violence. Please drop your comments at the Multicultural Youth Centre, 511 E. Victoria Avenue. You can also send them via fax to: (807) 622-7271, or by email to: rmycvoice@gmail.com.