More money for award-winning cop shop

Gore Street’s Neighbourhood Resource Centre has received some additional provincial funding while also winning a prestigious policing award.

MPP David Orazietti was on-hand to Friday announce $60,000 in provincial funding for the centre, which will come from a Proceeds of Crime Front-Line Policing Grant.

Police Chief Bob Keetch said the police service applied for the grant, which in effect takes money from criminal activity and puts it toward improving community well-being and crime prevention..

 “With the financial times within municipal government and the police service, it is very challenging to maintain service delivery and fiscal responsibility to the community,” said Keetch.

He added, “We have been successful in the past securing funding to support initiatives like this through that grant process.”

The centre acts as a hub for various community agencies to provide services for people in the area, which include Ontario Works, Children’s Aid Society and Canadian Mental Health Association.

“I think the overwhelming support shown here really demonstrates people care about all areas of our community and they want to see the best for citizens of Sault Ste. Marie. I think it speaks to the character of the leadership within these organizations that have come together,” said Orazietti.

The efforts of the centre were recently recognized by a provincial police organization with the annual Crime Prevention and Community Policing Award.

“The Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police are formally acknowledging and recognizing the great work and application of this model out of this centre. It’s quite exciting,” said Keetch.

The Neighbourhood Resource Centre opened in May of 2014 by then-Police Chief Bob Davies.

Keetch — who was an inspector with Sudbury Police at the time — had a consultant role on the creation of the centre, sharing his knowledge in community policing models.

“The impact it is having on this local community is well worth the investment on our behalf,” said Keetch.

(PHOTO: David Orazietti makes a funding announcement at the Neighbourhood Resource Centre on Gore Street yesterday. Kenneth Armstrong/SooToday)