Conference Scoop - Public Forum

Gangs: Is It A Problem?

The complex nature of organized crime exceeds the resources and expertise of any one jurisdiction or sector. Collective ideas that integrate intersectoral approaches are critical in successful strategies with positive long term impact. Given this, the 2010 WCGC Organizing Committee recognizes the need to provide a venue for information sharing and networking among police and non-police personnel.

The afternoon of Friday, September 24, 2010 will provide the space for this learning.

Event Details

September 24, 2010
Delta Regina - 2nd floor
1:00 - 5:00 pm
$10.00

Please note - The Public Forum cost is included in the Conference Registration, there is no need to register separately.

Agenda

1. Provincial Overview

2. Keynote - Dr. Mark Totten

3. Questions & Answer*
*Have a burning question? Submit it here and we will attempt to cover your theme in our presentation.

Dr. Mark Totten

"Quality Prevention, Intervention and Suppression Approaches for Addressing Gang Problems in Western Canada".

Totten Dr. Totten will provide a thought-provoking overview of what works and what doesn’t work when addressing gang problems in Western Canada. Drawing on his work across Canada and in other countries, he will investigate pathways into gangs for Aboriginal young men and young women, and take a critical look at prevention, intervention, and suppression models. He will challenge conference participants to integrate key lessons learned from other jurisdictions and let go of those approaches proven to be ineffective.

Bio

Dr. Mark Totten works with groups across Canada and in other countries on evidence-based practices in the areas of gangs, crime prevention, mental health, child maltreatment and family violence, bullying and harassment, sexual exploitation and trafficking, and gender identity. Along with his partner Sharon Dunn, he is President of Totten and Associates, a consulting company with the mission of “doing social justice science that makes a difference in the real lives of complex need people and their communities”. He is currently collaborating with groups in Ontario and Western Canada in the development and evaluation of multi-year gang prevention, intervention and suppression strategies. Many of his projects involve partnerships with Aboriginal and ethno-racial communities. Mark is past Director of Research at the Youth Services Bureau of Ottawa (1987-2007) and has worked with high-risk children, youth and families for three decades. He has a Master of Social Work and a Ph.D. in Sociology. He is an expert witness on gangs and a certified social worker. He has authored over 30 books, academic articles and government reports, including Guys, Gangs and Girlfriend Abuse (2000), When Children Kill: A Social- Psychological Study on Youth Homicide (2002), and Promising Practices for Addressing Youth Involvement in Gangs (2008). He is a frequent media commentator and keynote speaker at provincial, national and international conferences.