/
/
/
/
/
New Westminster launches “City Watch”

New Westminster launches “City Watch”

NEW WESTMINSTER—The Royal City has become the latest B.C. community to adopt “City Watch”, launching CUPE BC’s successful crime-fighting program this morning with a brief ceremony at City Hall.

Jeannie Ziraldo, Human Resources manager for the City of New Westminster, opened the event by noting that the majority of the City’s employees, members of CUPE 387, have been trained in “City Watch”.

When all those employees are accounted for, along with police and fire and rescue staff, said Mayor Wayne Wright, there are now “twelve hundred eyes on the street” ready to tackle crime in New West.

“Twelve hundred eyes makes us a better city to live in and a more protective city to live in,” Wright told a small crowd gathered in the City Hall foyer.

“And it’s not just for crime—this is for help. When you see somebody on the road who needs some help, you call our people. They get there, they take care of you. So once more, what we’ve done is we’ve added to our city just one more reason to be here. One more reason to choose New Westminster as a place to live—to be in a community that cares for everyone.”

CUPE BC general vice-president Cindy McQueen, who has presided over “City Watch” launches in North Vancouver, where she is president of CUPE 389, and in Vernon, said she is proud to see the program adopted in the city where she lives.

“As Mayor Wright just said, it’s not only to protect the community but to help the community,” said McQueen.

“’City Watch’ builds strong communities. If there’s a situation that happens in the street, often police will go and interview witnesses—and very rarely do witnesses actually have the correct awareness of suspect identification. So through ‘City Watch’ and specific training, our members are trained to identify suspects so that if it does come to court there is a successful conviction against the suspect.”

New Westminster police inspector Doug Walcott and fire chief Tim Armstrong also praised the program.

“City Watch” has now been adopted by more than a dozen communities throughout B.C.

cope491
Share this

Latest News

Budget 2024 tackles economic uncertainty with investments in public services and affordability – CUPE BC

Budget 2024 tackles economic uncertainty with investments in public services and affordability – CUPE BC

February 22, 2024
VICTORIA— Budget 2024 continues the BC NDP’s record of making meaningful investments in the public services that matter to people and communities, and creating and expanding programs that make life…
VICTORIA— Budget 2024 continues the BC NDP’s record of making meaningful investments in the public services that matter to people and communities, and creating and expanding programs that make life...

District of Chetwynd workers ratify new contract

District of Chetwynd workers ratify new contract

February 15, 2024
CHETWYND – After a collaborative round of negotiations CUPE 3052 members, municipal workers in the District of Chetwynd, have overwhelmingly ratified a new four-year contract. The new agreement includes wage…
CHETWYND – After a collaborative round of negotiations CUPE 3052 members, municipal workers in the District of Chetwynd, have overwhelmingly ratified a new four-year contract. The new agreement includes wage...

CUPE 1978 ratifies new agreement with Greater Victoria Housing Society

CUPE 1978 ratifies new agreement with Greater Victoria Housing Society

February 13, 2024
VICTORIA – CUPE 1978 members at the Greater Victoria Housing Society have ratified a new five-year agreement that provides improved working conditions for CUPE members, as well as enhanced supportive housing…
VICTORIA – CUPE 1978 members at the Greater Victoria Housing Society have ratified a new five-year agreement that provides improved working conditions for CUPE members, as well as enhanced supportive housing...