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City of Surrey hosting nine anti-gang workshops at Surrey Schools

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Parents and community members across the Surrey School District are once again invited to attend one of nine workshops hosted by the City of Surrey to learn more about gang prevention, risk factors and how to talk to children and youth about gangs.

Following the success of a series of workshops in November, the city's Community Safety Section is facilitating another round of interactive workshops supported by Wrap Around (WRAP) Program case managers, Surrey Anti-Gang Family Empowerment (SAFE) Program clinical counsellors and the Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit (CFSEU) BC. The workshop dates and locations are as follows:

  • Tuesday, April 19, 6-8 p.m. – Tamanawis Secondary, 12600 66 Ave. (Punjabi session)
  • Wednesday, April 27, 6-8 p.m. – Sunrise Ridge Elementary, 18690 60 Ave.
  • Thursday, May 5, 6-8 p.m. – A.H.P. Matthew Elementary, 13367 97 Ave.
  • Tuesday, May 10, 6-8 p.m. – École Salish Secondary, 7278 184 St.
  • Tuesday, May 17, 6-8 p.m. – Georges Vanier Elementary, 6985 142 St.
  • Wednesday, May 25, 6-8 p.m. – Beaver Creek Elementary, 6505 123A St. (Punjabi session)
  • Tuesday, May 31, 6-8 p.m. – L.A. Matheson Secondary, 9484 122 St.
  • Wednesday, June 1, 6-8 p.m. – Pacific Heights Elementary, 17148 26 Ave.
  • Tuesday, June 7, 6-8 p.m. – Bonaccord Elementary, 14986 98 Ave.

“We had a great turnout at our sessions in the fall and noticed considerable demand to host more this spring in other communities,” said Jaclyn Blaney, Community Schools Partnership facilitator with the district's Safe Schools department. “We want to equip parents and the public with the knowledge to identify warning signs and risk factors of gang activity, as well as the tools to talk to their kids about gangs and to build stronger connections to keep them from joining gangs.”

The workshops will also feature exercises for parents and guardians, and opportunities to ask questions one-on-one with experts. Concerned citizens and people who work with youth who may want more information are also welcome.

Attendees must register through Empower Surrey, an online resource for anti-gang information launched last year.

The nine schools hosting the workshops were chosen to ensure easy access in every area of the city, though parents can attend any session they would like. The Tamanawis Secondary and Beaver Creek Elementary workshops will be offered in Punjabi.

For more information or to register for a session, visit empowersurrey.ca.

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