Matthieu Thibeault and his colleagues at the Nipissing University Criminal Justice Honour Society have recognized a problem in North Bay and they worked bake sales, spaghetti dinners and even ran a volleyball tournament to help raise money for a worthy cause.
The students raised more than $1,140 which was presented at Police Headquarters and will go towards the Gateway Hub.
The Gateway Hub brings together representatives from local organizations to assess acutely elevated risk situations so that they can prevent incidents before they occur and reduce harm within the community. Those key partners are the North Bay Police and the North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit.
“As an organization we thought it would be exponential to assist those in those vulnerable populations as well as have someone at the Gateway Hub whose community orientation was already developing but we found they were slightly underfunded and therefore we wanted to assist in any way that we possibly could,” stated Thibeault who says he would like to either become a police constable or get into forensic identification once he has completed his schooling.
Dr. Jim Chirico, Medical Officer of Health, North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit, says it is really amazing they would even consider donating to the hub.
“They have that sense of community, they have that sense of responsibility and accountability,” said Chirico.
“They are really trying to make the system better. Being in Criminal Justice they understand the connection between the criminal justice system as well as community safety and health because they are both really interlinked.”
Chirico says donations to the Hub are key because most of the time the program’s funding comes from the agencies. Like Chirico, Deputy Chief Scott Tod is impressed by these students.
“Not only is is the money, but it is also the student’s recognition on how important collaborative services are in our community,” said Tod.