HIGH PROFILES | os NV coordinator wants every Street corner made safe

Coral Jansen of Block Parents

WE ARE, of late, getting daily media reminders of the in- crease in Lower Mainland youth violence. ;

).

NEWS photo Terry Peters

NORTH VANCOUVER Biock Parent coordinator Coral Jansen is preparing for the atmual national Block Parent Week to be held across Canada this week. The program provides safe refuge for

peogle in troubie.

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The issue surfaced again this week after a Surrey teenager was stabbed to death by a group of teens for no appurent reason.

On the North Shore, merchants in the Edgemont Village area recently held a special meeting with the North Vancouver RCMP to discuss. how to reduce area crime and youth violence.

But one North Vancouver woman, with help from the local RCMP, is trying to make a dif- ference.

Coral Jansen is the North Van- couver area coordinator for the local Block Parent program, which is run jointly by the North Vancouver RCMP and the North Vancouver District 44 School Board (NVSB).

The national Block Parent pro- gram was started in 1968 by the National Council of Jewish Women.

It was a direct result of kidnap- pings and murders that had taken place during that time in London, Ontario.

The program was started in North Vancouver in 1976 and cur- rently includes 32 elementary school zones in North Vancouver and Bowen Island.

Jansen said there are now over 1,500 Block Parents in North Vancouver and that over 30% of all cases involving Block Parents deal with people being threatened by others.

‘Block Parent homes are avail- able to anyone in troubie; people who are sick or injured.

By Surj Rattan News Reporter

‘Our biggest thing is kids being threatened by bullies. Those are the biggest incidents we have,” said Jansen,

She added that a Block Parent is any responsible adult who cares enough about the well-being of children and others to volunteer his or her home as a safe refuge when a need arises.

A Block Parent sign in the win- dow lets children in distress know that a Slock Parent is home to provide a safe haven.

The program is run by volun- teers with the cooperation of the North Vancouver RCMP and the

elementary school in North Vancouver and on Bowen Island has a school coordinator.

“The program stresses educa- tion as a key role to protecting children. They’re introduced to the program in kindergarten. They’re taught to recognize the Block Parent sign and that it means this is a safe home with reasonable adults where they can go for heip,”* said Jansen.

She added that most of the Block Parent recruiting is done through the local schools.

in addition, Jansen said Block Parents are not obligated to open their door for anyone, but will

See Block page 3TF

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