A former pro wrestler is preparing to bring Guardian Angels to the city.
Ian Hodgkinson says about 150 residents have already reached out to him through Facebook, to express their interest in volunteering. Hodgkinson, who left the city to pursue his professional wrestling career, returns to Thunder Bay and wants to bring the crime patrol group back with him.
Guardian Angels is often met with criticism, however Hodgkinson says nothing that’s done within the group can be remotely classified as a vigilante act. “The idea of forming citizen groups in their communities is so people feel safe, people know how to talk to each other, and people can help out if there’s an emergency,” says Hodgkinson.
“If a kid needs to make a phone call and can’t find his parents, or doesn’t have any money to get home, we can arrange those kinds of things.” He adds he’s not yet reached out to city police.
Hodgkinson says he’s ran the program successfully in Mexico City for the last 11 years, but is returning to the city in December to raise his daughter. He plans to get the ball rolling in the new year.
“Get to know people, obviously reach out to the mayor, talk to the Boys and Girls Club, the churches, parent groups, everybody involved with the schools,” he says, “step-by-step, you have to do these things the right way so that nobody gets the wrong message.” (Photo supplied)
