Steve and Sandra Halpenny Photo By: Richard Evans
The June 26th meeting of the Pembroke Community Watch saw a full house, marking the largest attendance since the program’s inception five years ago. The strong turnout reflected the community’s deep concern and commitment to addressing local challenges.
Residents and committee members engaged in a highly emotional and candid gathering, sharing personal experiences and heartfelt concerns about some of the most pressing issues facing both the neighbourhood and the wider community.
Pembroke Deputy Mayor Brian Abdallah headed up the meeting and had this to say about the reasons for the gathering:
Key topics discussed included public safety, recent crime incidents, substance abuse, and the urgent need for increased support for local youth. The open exchange of perspectives helped everyone gain a clearer understanding of the root causes and far-reaching impacts these issues are having on individuals and families throughout Pembroke.
Next Steps
.The committee is dedicated to ensuring that community concerns are heard at the highest levels and will continue to advocate for further actions and resources to address these challenges. Overall Adballah heard what he expected to hear but there were a couple of unexpected issues that caused him even greater concern:
Conclusion
The Community Watch committee will now debrief and carefully review all input and feedback gathered from attendees. This information will be compiled and shared with the City Council, Police Services Board, and the OPP. The June 26th meeting powerfully demonstrated the community’s willingness to confront difficult topics with honesty and compassion. Abdallah says that all concerns were heard and the next step is to take the findings back to Council for review:
Pembroke Community Watch remains steadfast in its commitment to building a safer, more supportive environment for all residents, and will continue to collaborate closely with local officials and law enforcement to drive meaningful progress.
(Richard Evans/Brian Abdallah)