MINUTES - PUBLIC - LIVING TOGETHER COMMISSION - 1st meeting - January 23, 2025 - 9:08 a.m. to 11:34 a.m.

8. Building Safer Communities Fund – Information

The Building Safer Communities Fund is presented by El Mustapha Bahri, Community Development Coordinator at the SLSDC. Ibrahim Sballil joins the meeting at 9:33 a.m. virtually.

Exchange period

General comments Thanks are addressed to the presenter. There is interest in knowing the next steps. Louis Sabourin, Vice-Chair of the CVE and Chair of the CGVS, offers to relay information as needed. The objective of the presentation was to raise awareness of this initiative and its deployment while highlighting current and potential partnerships.

Challenge of reaching youth and their families The difficulty of reaching youth and their parents is accentuated for newcomers who have many other concerns. The use of existing communication channels between schools and families should be prioritized, as should communication networks between organizations and families. Members raise the importance of informing and working in collaboration with organizations involved with immigrants, cultural communities, and Indigenous communities to facilitate trust and approaches with all citizens. It is possible to collaborate to relay information and invite people to take part in the project or activities.

Park hours The fact that parks close at 10 p.m. is a problem, as is the lack of activities or services for youth, particularly young girls, in Gatineau. The chair indicates that this issue is included in the Municipal Youth Action Strategy led by the Youth Commission.

Community profile Questions were raised as to whether data from the community profile was used, among other things regarding the number of immigrants in targeted communities or neighborhoods. The Service explains that yes, in the crime profile, a general portrait is made and data from the community profile is taken into account. A member also raises the interest in considering or sharing more targeted data, among other things regarding the Black community of Gatineau. A note is taken to this effect.

Partnership Clarification is requested regarding the number and choice of partner organizations for the project. Some members notice an absence of certain organizations representing cultural diversity or living together, such as religious groups for example. Living-together organizations may not have been sufficiently informed about the project, and it would be interesting to look into this. Regional organizations covering the entire territory are often already involved in the approach. The Service explains that general and targeted invitations are sent. Recently, the APO and the AFIO received a targeted invitation. All partners who feel concerned or who wish to get involved in the process are welcome. The more partners there are and the more mobilized they are, the more inclusive the approach will be. The issues will also be better known by all. The question of living together is important, as is intersectionality. It is recalled that a strategy is adopted by the committees in place and interventions are deployed in this regard. It is also difficult for organizations to participate in all consultations across the City's territory, but the territorial social development consultation tables are a starting point for discussions, and living together is transversal. Any contribution from partners, according to capacities, expertise, and availability, is encouraged; simply communicate with the SLSDC for this purpose.

Safety in parks and crime Comments focus on the rise in discrimination and crime. The importance of knowing resources and identifying at-risk populations to work upstream in prevention is raised. The Service responds that the City is already working on harm reduction and prevention. Community policing is very present and active in the file and on the ground. The approach allows for creating links with youth and their families, in a leisure-first approach (e.g., sports games, mascots, kiosks, etc.). The bond of trust between the community and the Service de police de la Ville de Gatineau (SPVG) is the foundation. The SLSDC and the SPVG work in full collaboration. This bond of trust sometimes needs to be built at the very beginning during certain interventions. It is recalled that the SPVG also carries major projects, including the crime profile and the community policing model. The approach allows for acting with very young people who have a certain or high level of risk related to crime. The reintegration component is also worked on in the field. Congratulations are addressed by the members for this project and the SPVG's approach—community and proximity policing. Its importance is recognized. It is proposed to receive more specific promotion of the project's activities to relay them to local organizations, including the APO. When the organization sends targeted invitations, participants are already more confident in taking part.

Parental stress factor It is noted that a major stressor for families is access to employment, particularly for immigrants who are on waiting lists. This stress can be transferred to children. It is important to have an overview of stress factors to support families as much as possible, including job searching. Organizations in the field of employability or economic development have a role to play.

Indigenous community A question is asked to find out the number of people from an Indigenous community who responded to the survey. This is a reflection to keep in mind due to the low participation of these people currently. Among other things, it is explained that the majority of the Indigenous population speaks more English and attends English schools. The issue of bullying and discrimination is present, and we must face it together. A proposal is made by the Centre d’amitié autochtone to collaborate on surveys in order to be more represented and included in the project. The link with families can be facilitated and encouraged. The Service explains that in the community profile, the proportion of Indigenous people living in a community is recorded. The Service thanks the Centre d’amitié autochtone for this proposal and will follow up appropriately to facilitate this collaboration.

9. Status report on the implementation of the 'Commande un Angelot' project in Gatineau – Information

The status report regarding the implementation of the 'Commande un Angelot' project in Gatineau is presented to the CVE members by Louise Cottereau, project manager for the Collectif social.

Exchange period

General comments The chair thanks the presenter and shows great enthusiasm for this project, which has progressed well in Gatineau. A question is asked to know if it is possible to do more public awareness with the goal of encouraging other bar owners to join the process. The presenter specifies that currently, there is no communication plan directly associated with the Gatineau project, but that it can all be considered. For the moment, during the training offered to the teams of the places that are part of the process, people have talked about it among themselves. Collaborations can be born to push different components following the training, such as issues of harassment. Also, as soon as there are a few accredited establishments, others will want to implement this project as well, and the snowball effect follows. The chair indicates that this subject could be revisited during a future work plan, if necessary.

Break from 10:22 a.m. to 10:37 a.m. It is agreed during the meeting to swap the order of the presentations for the 211 service and the Black History Month in Gatineau.

11. Black History Month 2025 – Information

The programming and description of Black History Month in Gatineau (MHNG) are presented by Garanké Bah, President of the Conseil de la communauté noire de Gatineau (CCNG), and Peggy Civil, coordinator for the MHNG. As visual support was projected during the meeting, the presentation will be sent to members following the Commission.

Exchange period

General comments Thanks are addressed. The question of bilingualism is asked. Are some of the activities in English? The Centre de ressources Connexions wishes to eventually possibly collaborate with the MHNG team to facilitate the participation of the English-speaking community in the activities as well. The CCNG specifies that translation is not official, but possible with the people present and the organizing committee teams who can support members of the public who request it if needed. It is something to reflect on. The presenters specify that it is possible to get involved or participate in the activities. The activities are participatory and intended for the entire community. Two Gatineau-Ottawa committees are working to coordinate and align themselves in connection with the celebrations on both sides. The work and support of the Service, particularly that of Louis Patrick Comeau, are noted. A special invitation is extended to members to attend the MHNG launch cocktail on January 31, 2025, at 6 p.m., at the Maison du Citoyen, to highlight the celebration activities in Gatineau. Sébastien Vallée leaves the meeting at 11:24 a.m.