Members of the Thunder Bay 2SLGBTIQ+ community have helped to shape the City of Thunder Bay’s new Community Safety and Wellbeing plan.
Crime Prevention Council Coordinator Lee-Ann Chevrette tells us it’s important to hear the concerns from as many people as possible.
“They provided a lot of great information, feedback and insight on how we can make our community safer for their community and for everyone in Thunder Bay,” Chevrette says.
Chevrette notes it’s critical to hear from all different groups and populations within our community to hear their voices and concerns.
“It is important, as we move forward in this process, that we elevate and amplify the voices of those community members who are oppressed, and who experience discrimination, and other safety and well-being risks disproportionately and most acutely,” Chevrette explains. “As a society, we continue to criminalize people for having mental health and addiction issues–these are health issues and we need to respond more appropriately and more compassionately.”
“As a community, we need to deepen our collective understanding of colonization, trauma, oppression and structural violence, and how these things play out in our community. In my opinion, it is only then that we will we be able take big steps towards making our community safer and healthier for everyone,” Chevrette adds.
She adds her experience is different from anyone else within the community and that’s why it’s important to reach out to hear those different experiences.
You can share your concerns with the Crime Prevention Council by clicking HERE.
