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NWL February 2023 Anti-Fraud Update

NWL - anti-fraud update - grandparent scam

Do you think this is screenshot of: 

  1. A visitor to someone’s home?
  2. A delivery person?
  3. A stranded motorist?
  4. A suspect in a recent grandparents scam?

For the answer (in case you hadn’t guessed it!), click on the link to this news report from February 3rd,  CTV News Ottawa This winter the RCMP, OPP, and the Canadian Anti Fraud Centre (CAFC) launched a special campaign to raise awareness of emergency-grandparents scams involving seniors. Last year, a staggering $9.2 million was lost to these scams according to the CAFC. That’s up from $2.4 million in 2021. 

How does the scam work? How can you protect yourself?  Go to the CAFC website for important safety tips. Grandparents scams on the rise 

And this reminder that scams can hit close to home….

Grandparents Scam’ Hits Ilderton

Feb 22, 2023 | 10:49 AM from Strathroy Today 

“Middlesex OPP were called to a business in Ilderton on February 16th around 1:45 pm for fraud. The  person came to the business to get additional funds after paying an unknown person $8400 as a result of the ‘Grandparents’ scam.

The victim got a phone call from the unknown person claiming to be a law firm out of London. The caller told the victim their grandson was in a collision and arrested and needed bail money. A person came to the victims house to collect the money. The fraudster then told the victim an additional $11,000 was needed to grant bail.” Grandparents Scam Hits Ilderton

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newsletters NWL

London Community News – May 2022

London Community News by Neighbourhood Watch London and Over 55 - May 2022

Welcome to London Community News! It’s a fresh, new look for our Neighbourhood Watch London newsletter, to reflect our connection with Over55 Skills at Work. We’ll be presenting the same timely content, on staying safe, secure and engaged in the London community. However, we’ll be expanding our readership to welcome Over55. 

Continue reading “London Community News – May 2022”
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NWL March 2022 Newsletter

NWL March 2022 Newsletter

Spring officially arrived on March 20th. The team at NWL wishes you all the best as we welcome the season.

Continue reading “NWL March 2022 Newsletter”
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COVID-19 newsletters NWL Safety

May 2021 Newsletter

NWL May Newsletter

Looking for the June 2021 Newsletter? Click Here.

COVID-19 Update

While we all continue to observe pandemic protocols, the month of May has brought some key developments. This includes extending vaccine eligibility for people 18 years and older, as well as the announcement of a 3-step reopening plan by the province of Ontario. The reopening plan involves easing restrictions through June, July and August beginning with a focus on resuming outdoor activities such as golf, tennis and basketball. Access to indoor activities, such as visiting galleries, is addressed in the third phase.

Mental Health Awareness

For the past 70 years, Mental Health Awareness week has been held in Canada during May. This year, it was observed the week of May third to ninth. In 2021, the Canadian Mental Health Association focus was on understanding our emotions. Acknowledging that people may be feeling especially stressed and anxious because of the pandemic, the CMHA website has some important advice on helping maintain our emotional wellbeing. This includes:

  • Becoming more emotionally “literate”.
  • Understanding how emotions physically impact our bodies.
  • Developing coping skills, such as putting our emotions into words. 

For more information, visit the CMHA website.

Road Safety Awareness

May is also Road Safety Awareness month. ”This annual awareness campaign is designed to increase public compliance with safe driving measures in order to save lives and reduce injuries on Canada’s roads. The focus of this campaign continues to be on behaviours that put drivers, passengers, pedestrians, cyclists and other vulnerable road users at risk: impaired driving, distracted driving, aggressive driving, and not wearing a seatbelt,” from a post by London police. 

For more go to : Road Safety Awareness

Systemic Racism Research Survey: London Police Services wants to hear from you.

“To this end, the LPS is conducting research, led by Dr. Hina Kalyal, Policy Analyst for LPS to determine to what extent systemic racism exists in our organization, and identify potential solutions Our Systemic Racism Research Survey is seeking those who have either personally interacted with a member of the LPS (civilian or uniformed) in the past, or who have directly and personally observed interactions between a member of the LPS and the public, to provide their feedback and experiences.”

Learn more here: London Police

The Write Stuff

Two London police officers have come up with a product to help write in the dark. It’s a notebook holder embedded with lights. The Nite Write is designed to help police officers take notes in low light or darkness without affecting their night vision. 

Check it out at Nite Write.

That’s it for this month! Until then, take care, and be sure to keep an eye out as we will be posting a summary of our Fraud Awareness 101 very soon!

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NWL

Digital Marketer – JCP

Role Summary: One of the core activities of this role, will be helping to move Neighbourhood watch from a traditional neighbourhood protection model to one of “community watch”, where addressing social isolation in neighbourhoods is a core priority.  This role will involve helping to rebrand the organization, understanding new keywords to implement and how to structure the company’s online brand to meet these new strategic objectives

Position Goals:

  • Guidelines, policies and tools for organizational social media use for rebranding
  • Rebranding Digital media plan
  • Rebranding social media budget

To apply, please ensure that you meet the JCP requirements posted here, and e-mail your cover letter and resume to info@nwlondon.ca.

This placement is made possible through on Ontario Job Creation Partnership, an Employment Ontario Program.

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NWL

NWL Needs Your Help!

As you know, COVID-19 has presented a difficult situation for our entire community, including Neighbourhood Watch London. Our goal is to continue to serve you, and we hope that you will consider supporting us with either an NWL Plus membership – $25 a year – or a one-time donation. Any amounts of $20 or more are tax deductible. You can learn more about membership benefits and how we operate below.

Engaged Members Make for an Effective Watch

Since 2001, Neighbourhood Watch London (NWL) has been helping build better communities throughout the Forest City. We help residents to take positive steps to improve their communities by working with them to identify, mitigate, and report community development and safety issues.

How Are We Funded?

NWL is independent of both the City of London (including any related municipal bodies) and the London Police Service. Our funding comes from business and individual membership fees, provincial grants, and donations from our members and concerned citizens like yourself.

Two-Tiered Membership

NWL now has two levels of membership available:

General Membership for NWL is free and gives you access to our programs which promote community betterment through safety, engagement, and civic participation.

NWL+ is $25/year and fully tax-deductible since we are a registered charity. Members of the Plus Program can save up to 10% on home insurance through Allstate Insurance Canada. Additionally, NWL+ offers members health benefits as well as discounts from local retailers.

Giving Helps Make Your Neighbourhood Safer

As a registered charity, NWL relies on the generosity of our members and members of the community at large. To continue being a reliable resource and advocate for safer, more cohesive neighbourhoods, NWL needs your support. Because it is only together that we can achieve our mutual goal of creating and maintaining vibrant, engaged communities all across the Forest City. 

Join NWL+ today and start taking advantage of these awesome benefits!

Already a member and wish to donate? Email us at: info@nwlondon.ca to learn how. Your generosity is greatly appreciated. 

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COVID-19 NWL

Staying Connected Important Now More Than Ever, Especially for Seniors

As 2020 comes to a close, there are still many questions surrounding COVID-19. Communities have seesawed between loosening and tightening social restrictions as instances of infection have dictated. And while everyone has been on the lookout for some sort of consistency, it’s been difficult to determine what the “new normal” will entail.

However, one of the biggest concerns regarding social distancing has been its effects on metal health. While keeping ourselves isolated from others has helped curb infections, the long-term consequences of limiting human interaction is a problematic one, especially when it comes to the elderly population.

One is the Loneliest Number

Studies have already begun examining the challenges isolation poses on seniors. Because this particular demographic relies more heavily on out-of-home social contact, these individuals could find themselves disproportionately affected.

Without access to regular outlets for communicating and connecting with others, such as community centres or places of worship, seniors may experience higher rates of loneliness and/or depression. Furthermore, when considering care facilities such as nursing homes, visits from close family and friends play a huge part in ensuring seniors stay healthy and connected.

Therefore, it’s up to society, as always, to see that changes are implemented safely and compassionately. The more that communities can do to empower their older population to gain access to and adopt technology as a channel for meaningful connection, the more they can do to improve quality of life. As countries everywhere try to navigate this difficult and precarious situation, it’s important those most vulnerable are protected and supported.

How Can You Help?

Take the time to consider those who may not have as many options to stay social.

  • Call seniors you know more frequently
  • If possible, utilize online technologies for games
  • Send hand-written letters to add a more personal touch
  • Coordinate with care staff in nursing homes to arrange virtual visits
  • Introduce viewing parties to enjoy movies/shows together

If you found this article and our resources helpful, consider joining NWL Plus for members-only updates, savings on home and auto insurance from Allstate, and discounts from local retailers. You can also make one time, tax-deductible donations – since 2001 Neighbourhood Watch London has been a registered charity focused on community safety and improvement.

– The NWL Team

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Crime Prevention Blog NWL Social Media

Ward Groups Now Up On Facebook

Traditional pin-back buttons with Facebook icons on them resting against a white background.

This past October, Neighbourhood Watch London introduced Facebook Groups for each of the Forest City’s 14 wards. With winter fast approaching and no sign of the pandemic abating any time soon, NWL wants to ensure its members stay connected.

Facebook Groups are great ways to communicate with people who share similar interests. And it’s not uncommon for regular FB users to be associated with multiple groups at a time. With ward groups, NWL is hoping to encourage discussions that directly relate to particular areas or neighbourhoods in the city. Whether it be local events, friendly recognitions or safety concerns, NWL’s new ward groups will help keep you up to speed in your community.

How to Join

To join your ward’s group, visit Neighbourhood Watch London’s Facebook page. Next, from the top menu, click the “More” tab and select “Groups.”

Person using index finger to navigate social media icons on a tablet.

Find and select the group (ward) you wish to join, answer the three quick membership questions and agree to the group’s code of conduct. You should be automatically allowed into the group and begin interacting with other community members.

Note: you may join any of the ward groups providing you fill out the membership questions. You don’t have to be from a particular ward to join its group.

Respect the Law

While community pages such as these can provide members with information surrounding personal safety or potential illegal activity, remember to exercise good judgement. Neighbourhood Watch London does not condone vigilantism under any circumstance. If you suspect dangerous or illegal activity in your community, please report to the London Police Service. For emergencies, call: 9-1-1. For non-emergencies, call: 519-661-5670.

…and Each Other

Let’s all remember to be as respectful as possible when engaging in online discussions. Part of the beauty of communities is diversity. Despite differing backgrounds and/or opinions, communities are true mosaics of people who come together for one another. So, even though we may not always agree, truly taking the time to listen to someone instead of waiting for our turn to speak can help us understand and empathize.

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newsletters NWL

July 2020 Newsletter

NWL July 2020 Newsletter Header

Greetings from NWL!

What’s New at NWL:

We are thrilled to welcome some new faces to the NWL team. We are fortunate to have them working with us on a temporary basis, through the Job Creation Partnership program. Here is a bit about them:

Continue reading “July 2020 Newsletter”
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NWL April 2020 Newsletter

Neighbourhood Watch London - April 2020 Newsletter

COVID-19 Update

With the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s now more important than ever to support each other to ensure our communities stay strong. Social media is playing a vital role in helping us all stay connected, so please stay in touch! We encourage you to follow us on facebook, twitter and instagram, and also to join our new facebook group to stay in touch. This new group is private, and only open to NWL members.

Continue reading “NWL April 2020 Newsletter”
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NWL

NWL OJCP Positions

JCP (Job Creation Partnership) positions are government funded and as such have a special set of requirements. YOU MUST MEET the following requirements:

1.  You are a permanent resident of Canada (your Social Insurance Number cannot begin with a 9 if you intend to apply for this position)

2. You are actively receiving EI benefits, have made an EI claim that ended in the last 3 years, or an EI parental or maternity benefit claim that ended in the past 5 years.

3. You are willing to accept a wage equal to EI benefits – compensation is set by this government program and cannot be adjusted.

Current Postings:

This placement is made possible through on Ontario Job Creation Partnership, an Employment Ontario Program.

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newsletters NWL

NWL March Newsletter

Dear NWL Members:

As we enter March 2020 in the mist of this COVID-19 pandemic, we would like to reach out to you with suggestions and tips on how you and your watch area can remain safe and healthy.

Continue reading “NWL March Newsletter”
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newsletters NWL

NWL COVID-19 Update

Neighbourhood Watch Members

Dear NWL Members:

As COVID-19/Novel Coronavirus continues to challenge how we work and deliver service, we would like to inform you that our offices are closed until at least April 6th. We remain available to you via e-mail – info@nwlondon.ca – should you have any questions or concerns. Please watch this space for COVID-19 tips for you and your community.

Thank you, and stay healthy!

Sincerely,

Rodolfo Martinez

for the NWL Team

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newsletters NWL

February 2020 Newsletter

Neighbourhood Watch London - Fenruary Newsletter Header - Heart Shaped Tree

February 2020 Newsletter

Greetings!

Thank you for all of us at Neighbourhood Watch London as we work towards building a stable and sustainable future for our organization.  We appreciate those of you who have provided email lists of your Watch members so that we can maintain an up-to-date database.

Continue reading “February 2020 Newsletter”
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newsletters NWL

January 2020 Newsletter

2020: Starting a Year of Clarity

We hope that you all had an enjoyable holiday, and that this year is treating you well. As we continue a period of change for our organization, we wanted to provide a brief update, along with some resources.

Continue reading “January 2020 Newsletter”
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NWL

NWL Holiday Campaign

In this season of giving, we ask that you consider a tax-deductible donation to Neighbourhood Watch London (NWL).

As you are no doubt aware, our financial future is in jeopardy. The City of London no longer provides grant money to NWL, and we must now rely on options such as fundraising to help sustain the organization.

Continue reading “NWL Holiday Campaign”