Minister of Justice - National Youth Justice Policing Award 2004

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 2004 DoJustice winners in the category of Honourable Mention:

Constable Dave Dickson of the Vancouver Police Department

Constable Dameon Okposio of Peel Regional Police

And the Community Resources Unit of the Lethbridge Regional Police Service

• Sergeant Jamie Fisher
• Constable George Carscadden
• Constable Nichole Fox
• Constable Jim Olsen
• Constable Renee Scotland
• Constable Rod Tilson
• Constable Sheldon Twigg
• Constable Cam Van Roon
• Constable Mark Waage
• Constable Randy Ward

Now, the national winners of Certificates of Distinction:

Sergeant David Jacob Harty of the Calgary Police Service, whose highly inventive program "About Face" helps youth take ownership of their actions, understand the consequences of their crime, discover their own abilities and learn the necessary tools so they won't re-offend.

Constable Dean Roy of the Durham Regional Police Service, for the creation of innovative programs like "Durham Under 12", and for building stronger relationships and better communication between local youth-serving programs and agencies.

And the 2004 Overall Winner:

Corporal Brian Foote of the Mission Detachment, Royal Canadian Mounted Police. for creating and implementing the Mission Family Support Network. The Network is a way of providing counselling and assistance to young people who are at risk of entering into the justice system or who have already started down the criminal path.

Youth and their families have their cases reviewed by an integrated management team composed of family counsellors, drug and alcohol counsellors, school district counsellors, mental health counsellors and Aboriginal counsellors.

This opens up the lines of communication and allows everyone to see the complete picture of what is happening in an individual case. The team is then able to determine what combination of help would most benefit the youth and their families.

The Ministry of Justice and the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police are proud to recognize, honour, and thank Corporal Brian Foote.

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.