For an urban centre on North America’s west coast, Greater Victoria is a surprisingly idyllic region. The city’s name calls to mind tranquil beaches, shady parks, and peaceful streets. Young families and retirees move here in droves. They come for our temperate weather, unbeatable scenery, and safe neighbourhoods. Islands unto themselves, local school grounds and campuses are veritable sanctuaries where our young people are nurtured into competent, confident citizens. Maintaining safety in these schools is essential for the well-being of students. And for the stability of our future.
From preventative measures to crisis interventions, school safety is a hot topic these days. The security industry has seen its presence in schools transform from physical guards walking the halls to high-tech monitoring systems with direct links to law enforcement. Meanwhile, school boards and administrators have been busy updating emergency-response plans and protocols for safety drills. That’s important work. We need young people to feel safe, so they can learn about the world around them and their place in it.
Our experience at Western Canada Security teaches us that incidents and crises often stem from mental-health concerns. Many students will experience overwhelming levels of emotional stress as they grow into adults and learn to manage competing pressures. Nurturing their maturation in a supportive, inclusive manner is vital. It’s the number-one step that educators and parents can take to ensure safety at our daycares, public and private schools, or college and university campuses.
We believe local security firms can take a position of leadership to help guide early detection and effective interventions from the supportive adults that kids and youth depend on. The areas needing coverage include the route to-and-from, the facilities themselves, and any off-site location for before-and-after care, field-trips, and extracurricular activities. When we hear “school safety,” at Western Canada Security we think first of a friendly wave from the window of a passing patrol vehicle, rather than metal detectors or emergency response.
Educational environments are not all created equal. Safety concerns at a daycare or preschool are dramatically different from the needs of highschoolers or post-graduates. In Greater Victoria, an increasing concern for teens and young people is the rising prevalence of street gangs. They work to recruit young people directly from our school populations, through intimidation and extortion.
Earlier this year, Chief Manak of the Victoria Police Department issued a relevant statement on student safety. It acknowledges a growing problem. Manak reports on Vic PD’s recent information sessions that have alerted more than 600 participating parents to warning signs and how to prevent their kids from being recruited into criminal networks. Thank you to all involved with this successful program!
Educational buildings across Vancouver Island are community hubs, not just learning centres for young people. They are where we gather for sporting events or community programs, to take in a concert or cast a ballot in a civic election. That’s why we strive to promote the importance of school safety to a wide audience. We also know that in the vast population of learners in our community, there are a good number of future security professionals. Some of those young people are already developing their skills: by looking out for their peers and practicing awareness, alertness, and aliveness to risk.