Tag: nwl

May 2021 Newsletter

Post author By Rodolfo Martinez
Post date May 21, 2021

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!

Tags covid-19, may, newsletters, nwl, road safety

NWL

NWL Needs Your Help!

Post author By NW London
Post date November 27, 2020

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.

Tags fundraising, membership, nwl

Crime Prevention Blog NWL Social Media

Ward Groups Now Up On Facebook

Post author By Nick McCallum
Post date November 3, 2020

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.

Tags Community, community building, Community Safety, nwl, online

newsletters

October 2020 Newsletter

Post author By NW London
Post date October 27, 2020

Greetings From NWL!

What’s New at NWL:

Fall has arrived and we hope you are staying safe, and making the best of the season in these challenging times. Of course the pandemic is top of mind as we look at daily reports of COVID numbers and subsequent measures to curb the spread of the virus.

COVID-19 and Halloween

The pandemic has raised questions and concerns among families about trick-or-treating this year. Recent media reports include comments by Mayor Ed Holder and Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Chris Mackie, which highlight considerations in planning for Halloween. We’ve put together a special Halloween guide for our members, which you can read here: NWL COVID-19 Halloween Tips

A Special Note From London Police Service Regarding Increased Bank Fraud

Be aware of recent reports of personal banking fraud. Here’s how the scam works: The victim is approached by someone who says they’ve lost their wallet or phone. The suspect asks for assistance, sending a fake electronic fund transfer to the victim. The victim is convinced to withdraw cash from an ATM, and hands the money over to the suspect. After the suspect has left the area, the victim realizes they have been defrauded. In another scenario, the victim is asked to deposit a cheque by the suspect into their personal bank account and turn over the money to the suspect. The victim later discovers the cheque was fraudulent.

“The London Police Service would like to remind the public that agreeing to withdraw funds from a bank account for a stranger is very risky, and usually ends up in a situation where the victim loses money. Any time someone wants to use your personal bank account for their benefit, it comes with great risk and should be avoided to protect the integrity of your bank account and personal finances” according to the London Police website.

Why Reporting is Important

A man has been charged after citizens called police following a break and enter at an east-end London business. Police received a call about 11:30 p.m. September 26th, concerning a man said to be holding a shovel outside a Dundas St. building. Officers arrived to find a glass door had been damaged. A man fitting the description of the suspect was taken into custody and property belonging to the business was recovered. To quote police: “We want to take this opportunity to thank the members of the public for reporting crimes to the London Police Service. Often things go unreported, and we continue to remind Londoners, when we don’t know – we can’t go.”

Canine Kudos!

Heroes come in all shapes and sizes, and sometimes they have four legs! London police dog Koda, is being credited with helping the Canine Unit catch a stolen vehicle suspect. The vehicle had been taken from south London residence September 28th. Police tracked down the van, and as they approached the vehicle, the suspect fled into an alley. Koda led police to a man hiding inside a large garbage dumpster. The suspect has been charged with theft over $5000.

London’s Strategic Plan – What’s in it For You?

You might want to take some time to familiarize yourself with London’s newest strategic plan. A strategic plan is used by municipalities like London, to outline priorities for the coming years. London’s 2019-2023 strategic plan is available for viewing on the city’s website. Regarding community safety, the plan includes commitments to:

Reduce collision-related injuries and fatalities through public education and enhanced traffic enforcement.
Reduce crime through increased visibility of community patrols and partnership with other agencies to address multi-jurisdictional criminal activity.
Reduce victimization/revictimization through public education, promotion and encouragement of public engagement in crime prevention strategies.

London’s strategic plan also aligns with NWL’s commitment to neighbourhood building, with pledges to:

Strengthen engagement opportunities for all Londoners to participate in their neighbourhoods.
Support neighbourhood festivals, cultural events and activities across the city.
Implement programs and services that respond to neighbourhood recreation needs.

Our New Website is Here!

If you’ve visited nwlondon.ca recently, then you’ve seen our new design! With COVID-19, we need to transition to digital communications, and our new website has great new information for all of our members. We welcome your feedback, so be sure to e-mail info@nwlondon.ca and let us know what you think!

NWL Needs Your Support

COVID-19 has presented challenges for many non-profits, and we are no exception. In order to maintain the viability of NWL, we have created a new tier of membership: NWL Plus. This membership will offer exclusive resources, as well as special discounts and perks from local businesses who are part of our new My Business Neighbourhood Program. Membership is only $25 a year and is tax deductible. You can learn more here.

Until next month, we hope that you stay safe and healthy.

Sincerely,
The NWL Team

Tags fundraising, newsletter, nwl, october