Monday 4 November 2013, Crime Prevention Ottawa, held its annual Community Safety awards at City Hall to honour those individuals who have contributed immensely in making Ottawa a safer place to live in. In attendance was Mayor Jim Watson, several councillors, Police Chief Charles Bordeleau, members of the board of Crime Prevention Ottawa and representatives of Ottawa’s diverse agencies and community organisations. Among the prominent award winners was Somali-born Mohamed Islam, a community Youth Worker with the Pinecrest-Queensway Community Health Centre and well-known volunteer, community advocate and activist within Ottawa’s Black community. In addition to his regular work, Mohamed has been a long-time member of the Community and Police Action Committee, a volunteer group representing Ottawa’s diverse ethnic, religious and gender-based organisations which promotes good relations with the Ottawa Police Service. Mohamed was presented with the Youth Award for outstanding contribution to outreach and engagement with vulnerable young people. Another recipient was 16 year old Sudanese-born Sandi Douf, who received the Community Program award as a member of the STAR Program-Christie Lake Kids. Crime Prevention Ottawa is a city funded agency which aims to contribute to crime reduction and enhanced community safety in Ottawa through collaborative, evidence-based crime prevention. It works closely with local residents, government, police, school boards, businesses, community services, child protection and other partners to reduce crime and build safer communities. Among the members of the board of CPO is Jamaican-born Lucyla Spencer, Executive Director of the Immigrant Women Services Organisation. For more information visit: http://www.crimepreventionottawa.ca/
