Quesnel Cariboo Observer, November 07, 2014

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TRUSTEE CANDIDATES PAGE A3

Friday, November 7, 2014

VETERAN ON A MISSION PAGE A10

VOL. 101 NO. 20

www.quesnelobserver.com

MINOR HOCKEY IN REVIEW PAGE A18

PM 40005365

1

$ 30

includes GST

Glorious nighttime vista Quesnel’s historic foot bridge, with it’s constantly changing colours looks particularly beautiful in gold, a symbol often associated with our community. Robin Malherbe photo

Know the law regarding aggressive panhandling The Quesnel RCMP continues to work closely with the City of Quesnel and the local business community in dealing with aggressive panhandling, primarily in the downtown core. The Quesnel RCMP would like to ensure that the public is aware of the provisions of the Safe Streets Act when it comes to people asking for money. The following elements qualify as offences under the Safe Streets Act: •soliciting in a manner that would cause a reasonable person to be concerned for their safety or security, including threatening with physical harm, by word, gesture or other

means; •obstructing the path of the solicited person; •using abusive language; •proceeding behind or alongside or ahead of the solicited person; •physically approaching, as a member of a group of two or more persons, the solicited person; •continuing to solicit the person; •soliciting within five metres of an automated teller; •soliciting someone who is using or waiting to use a pay phone; • soliciting at a bus stop, or anyone who is getting on or off a bus; • soliciting a person who is getting in or out of a vehicle, or is in a parking lot;

Bringing Our

Community

TOGETHER Re-Elect MARY SJOSTROM for Mayor

• soliciting the occupants of a stopped or parked vehicle on a roadway. In addition, attempting or threatening, by an act or gesture, to apply force to another person, or openly carrying or wearing a weapon or an imitation of a weapon while asking for money, or threatening to injure or kill a person, a pet, or damage property are all offences under the Criminal Code of Canada. In summary, a person can solicit for money if they are standing still and ask only once, but not near a bank machine, bus stop or pay phone, and not in a parking lot. The Quesnel RCMP would like to encourage

people to report any behaviour that breaches the Safe Streets Act or the Criminal Code. “While the RCMP continues to attempt to combat this behaviour, these instances are often reported anecdotally through social media or other means, but not actually reported to the police, so there is no record of the incident and no enforcement action can be taken without specific details. Instead of venting your frustrations on social media, take time to report this activity to police, so that our members can more effectively deal with this issue,” Quesnel Staff Sergeant Steve Vrolyk said. “It is important for the

public to be aware that the money generous citizens provide to panhandlers is not always used for the food and shelter that the Good Samaritan intends. In some cases, the spare change donated to panhandlers is used to fuel alcohol and/or drug addictions. Unfortunately, when this money is used to fuel addictions, it often leads to many residual issues including public intoxication, drug use and violence. Poverty and homelessness are concerns in our community. Let’s all do our part in supporting those in need by ensuring that they get the help and resources they really

Good day, Quesnel. Thanks for reading — and that includes loyal subscriber S. Chisholm! To join the Observer family, please call 250-992-2121 and ask for circulation.

need.” RCMP and the city remind residents there are a number of local agencies, charities, churches and various other community groups which offer support to the less fortunate by providing them with food, clothing, shelter as well as substance abuse counselling and emotional support. Anyone wishing to support those in need, should consider giving to one of these organizations directly. If you do wish to provide direct support to a person asking for money, it is recommended you offer them food or a coffee instead of giving them money.

Deb Quick, Travel Consultant 250-992-5169 in Quesnel

Deb Quick, A Flight Centre Associate, part of a World Wide Network of travel experts!

Authorized by Financial Agent Bev Haluschak - 250 255 6350

www.maryformayor.ca

www.AskDeb.ca

BCReg#23929


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