Minister of Justice - National Youth Justice Policing Award 2005

Today's young people are an extraordinary group of Canadians: they can be articulate, engaging, and thoughtful… they can be bewildered, lost, directionless, too.

Some have the tools and the will at their disposal to really give us hope for the future.

For others, it's a tougher road… for all kinds of reasons.

Cues and clues are taken from advertising, music television, films and video games. Adulthood is rehearsed on the ever-changing stage of peer relationships, dating, and discovery.

Each one responds in a unique way to the incredible pressures of their world. The temptations are great… the challenges of avoiding those temptations are enormous.

Today, for far too many young people, the rules and the boundaries just aren't clear… and it's far too easy to find trouble.

But across this nation, there are some very special people who commit to being that thin line…

…that source of guidance, inspiration… someone who challenges, who pushes, who builds trust…

…and understands that respect, self-esteem, self-control, and responsibility can grow from that commitment..

In the spirit of Canada's youth justice renewal, these extraordinary police officers believe in kids …

…believe in fresh thinking and innovation that creates alternatives…

…believe that young people CAN face and own up to their responsibilities - take ownership of their actions.

These are people who believe that most young Canadians can learn lessons about themselves, learn to make smart choices, and grow as people.

The people you are about to meet are police officers who have gone above and beyond.

They have combined innovation and imagination with traditional policing skills and hard work on the front lines to deal with young people in conflict with the law - because they believe that it's worth it…

…because they believe that community, law enforcement, the justice system and young people can work in harmony.

Their efforts benefit their home communities and strengthen the youth justice system in Canada.

The Department of Justice, in collaboration with the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police, congratulates all winners of this year's Minister of Justice National Youth Justice Policing Awards.

To begin, the 2005 winners in the category of Honourable Mention:

Sergeant Danielle Bouchard, of the Sûreté du Québec, district de l'Estrie.

Detective constables Elizabeth Miller and Valerie Spicer of the Vancouver Police Department.

And of the Waterloo Regional Police Service

• Lee Fitzpatrick
• Staff Sergeant Tom Matthews
• Constable Mike Allard
• Constable Robert Gould

Now, the national winner of Certificate of Distinction:

Constable Dean Childs of the RCMP, Kelowna detachment, for his work with the Alternative Intervention for Marijuana Suspension program, which was designed to provide an alternative program for students charged with first time marijuana offenses. Constable Childs' dedication and commitment to keeping youth drug-free was instrumental in reducing the number of repeat offenders in School District 23.

And the 2005 overall winner:

Detective Hugh Wong of the Toronto Police Service plays an active role in the Peacemaking Circle program in the communities of Regent Park and St. Jamestown. The Peacemaking Circle program, through Peacebuilders International Inc., provides a community-based alternative to the court system. It helps to keep youths connected to the communities by including a variety of community stakeholders as part of the solution, including the police, schools, social workers and family members.

Circle keepers facilitate the process of respectful conversation. The use of a talking piece, which is an ancient form of communication for spiritual, political and communal life found throughout Aboriginal traditions, guides conversation in the Circle. Participants are encouraged to listen to others, step into their shoes, share their experiences and work towards a common goal.

Detective Wong has used his discretion on a number of cases, holding discussions with the youth, his or her parents or guardians, and the victim in order to fully assess the suitability of each candidate before recommending them for the program.

Detective Wong has been part of the steering committee since inception of the program. He dedicates a lot of time and effort to this initiative both on and off duty, as he feels that this program has made a significant measurable difference to the lives of at-risk youth for the better.

The Department of Justice and the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police are proud to recognize, honour and thank Detective Hugh Wong.

To the winners... and to every police officer across Canada who makes a difference… as a mentor… mediator… coach…friend…

Thank you for what you do.