Community activist Michael Champagne (centre) with North End Ambassadors.
Since 2008, a unique group of individuals have taken to the streets of Winnipeg in an effort to make the North End and Point Douglas communities safer and more accessible for residents and visitors alike.
They are called North End Ambassadors and you may recognize them from the bright orange shirts they wear as they patrol the streets and alleyways of some of the higher crime ridden areas of our city.
North End Ambassadors in the Willaim Whyte neighbourhood.
An initiative spearheaded by the North End Community Renewal Corporation and operated out of the North End Business Development Centre, the North End Ambassador Program (NEAP) is a non-confrontational, non-interdiction street patrol that serves the community by providing a uniformed street patrol available that assists residents and businesses in a variety of ways.
While team members are not responsible to apprehend, pursue, restrain, investigate or otherwise enforce laws other than as appropriate as a citizen, Ambassadors have been successful at building positive community relationships and assisting in a variety of safety situations.
Ambassadors with Robert Falcon Oulette (back row 3rd from right) at the recent NECRC picnic.
North End Ambassadors’ foot patrols concentrate on five core communities: North Point Douglas, Lord Selkirk Park, Dufferin, William Whyte and St. John’s, devoting 80% or their patrol activity to the main commercial areas of Main Street, Dufferin/Jarvis Avenues and Selkirk Avenue. The rest of their time is allocated to residential streets and back lanes of these neighbourhoods.
NEAP is always interested in recruiting new volunteers. Candidates need to have a passion for the North End, are looking for job skills, have a willingness to learn and take direction, can maintain confidentiality, are comfortable communicating with community members, are confident, motivated, organized, punctual, and have strong leadership qualities.
On Sat. Sept. 12, from noon to 3 p.m., several Community Ambassadors will be on hand at Circle of Life Thunderbird House at 715 Main St., to talk about some of the things they have done for residents of the North End and Point Douglas neighbourhoods. A light lunch and refreshments will be served.
If you plan on attending this event, send an email to the NEAP at neapteamlead@necrc.org or call them at 204.927.2332
