Guelph-Eramosa councillors support Wellington’s goal of becoming the first county designated a “Safe Community” – and has expressed interest in establishing a local committee of its own.
On Jan. 21 county councillor Gary Williamson, co-chair of Safe Communities Wellington County, outlined the committee’s short- and long-term goals to achieve the designation from Safe Communities Canada.
Williamson, who appeared as part of a delegation alongside Wellington County OPP Inspector Scott Lawson, said the committee operates on the assumption that injury is “predictable and preventable.”
He noted injuries cost the Canadian economy about $19 billion per year, and that is part of the reason the Wellington group is part of the county’s economic development committee.
Williamson told council there are 62 communities in the country designated by Safe Communities Canada and the Wellington committee hopes by this spring (about one year after forming) to become the first county to receive the dedication.
The county committee met late last year with various community stakeholders – including school boards, emergency responders, public health, municipal politicians and others – and came up with a list of priorities for the county committee.
The final rankings for the county were:
– falls;
– motor vehicle accidents;
– intentional self harm;
– Sports and recreation;
-agricultural injuries;
– accidental poisonings; and
– pedestrian and cyclists.
“The only constant is change,” Williamson said, adding local safe community committees can alter the list as they see fit.
He noted Guelph-Eramosa is one of the only municipalities in the county that doesn’t have its own safe communities committee either established or in the process of forming.
Councillor John Scott offered his support for the idea, repeating the adage, “If you think safety is expensive, you should try an accident.”
Williamson said the county committee is hoping to get a breakdown on injuries for each municipality and then examine whether any differences are the result of demographics or because of some action taken in the community.
Lawson noted Wellington County was named the safest community in Canada by Maclean’s magazine.
“We want to maintain that,” he said, adding Safe Communities Wellington County, as well as the lower-tier committees, will be an important part of that feat.
When councillor David Wolk asked how the county committee fits in with what’s already being done on the farm safety front, Williamson said part of the challenge is knowing what other groups are already doing.
He stressed the county committee does not want to diminish what current groups are doing – but work with them.
Councillor Corey Woods asked what his council could do to promote safety.
Lawson replied the first step is to determine what the local priorities are, and then the OPP can partner with the municipality to drive those agendas. He added the goal is to bring all the possible partners and stakeholders together.
Mayor Chris White congratulated Williamson and the county committee, which he said, “managed to pull an incredibly diverse group together.”
White suggested the township could discuss a local safe community committee at a future meeting of its strategic planning committee. He also suggested having members of the Puslinch committee visit Guelph-Eramosa to discuss possible goals, implementation, and more.
Council voted unanimously in favour of a resolution to that effect. Councillor Doug Breen was absent.
