Page 24 - Brandon Sun - 2018 Community Leader Awards

24 • COMMUNITY LEADER AWARDS 2018 THE BRANDON SUN • THURSDAY, JUNE 21, 2018

» COMMUNITY BUILDER AWARD, SPONSORED BY VANGUARD CATALYST CREDIT UNION

Former Brandon Police Service chief Ian Grant sheds light on the legalization of recreational cannabis, during a public meeting last year. (Tyler Clarke/The Brandon Sun)
Community Mobilization proponent commended

BY JILLIAN AUSTIN

Growing up on the east coast of Canada, Ian Grant recalled
how the importance of “giving back” was instilled in him from
a young age.
“My folks always told me to give back to the community that
you lived in — they did in many different ways,” Grant said.
Perhaps it was that message that inspired him to pursue a
career in law enforcement. He began his policing career with
the RCMP in 1980, and served in Brandon, Wasagaming and
Flin Flon detachments. In April 1985, he became a member of
the Brandon Police Service. Grant served as Brandon’s chief of
police from 2013 until his retirement in 2017 .
Throughout his career, Grant was involved in many areas of
the police department, from the tactical response unit to the
crime division, and said he enjoyed them all. Brandon Police Service chief Ian
“The one thing that really kind of stood out, is… the Grant fields questions about the
community still respects, to a great extent, the work that police 2015 BPS annual report in mid-
officers do,” he said. “And I think they look at police officers 2016. (file)
as being leaders in the community — at least I hope that people
do. And based on what my parents had taught me growing up,
I really wanted to become involved in the community and make
the community better.” if he ever had the chance. That opportunity came about once probation officer and other people had actually came and asked
Grant was nominated for the Community Builder Award for he became chief. her if she needed help,” he said. “They weren’t there to arrest
his many years of leadership and his efforts to spearhead He received “overwhelming support” from the local her, they weren’t there to assign blame to her, they were offering
Community Mobilization in Brandon. community and its agencies, and the initiative officially launched help and assistance.”
Community Mobilization is the gathering together of in Brandon in 2015. This particular woman had been dealing with addictions
government and non-government human service professionals “(They) supplied fantastic people to sit at the Hub table that issues, and CFS had been involved. With the help she received,
for the purpose of identifying individuals or families who are meets twice a week, to look at situations where people are at she was able to get her life back on track.
at acutely elevated risk. The goal is to reach out to individuals acutely elevated risk,” Grant said. “They’ve done great work “In the letter, she wrote… ‘it felt the help that you gave me
or families and connect them to supports and services before over the last few years.” took a 300-pound backpack off my back’,” he said.
the situation escalates or a tragedy occurs. Currently sitting at the Community Mobilization table are Grant said after hearing this success story, it’s a reminder of
Grant first heard about the concept at a conference in Regina BPS, RCMP, Brandon School Division, Child and Family how it is all worth the effort.
back in 2011, where a former Prince Albert police chief spoke Services of Western Manitoba, Dakota Ojibway Child and “It wasn’t easy to get everybody to the table, and there was a
about community mobilization in their city. It originated in Family Services, Prairie Mountain Health, Probation Services, lot of heavy lifting,” he said. “That’s one case… I’m sure other
Glasgow, Scotland. Brandon Correctional Centre, Westman Family Services and people probably feel the exactly the same way.”
“It was the first of its kind anywhere in Canada that took a Brandon Friendship Centre. Grant said he feels “deeply honoured” to be nominated for a
risk-driven approach to try and deal in a coordinated fashion Grant is proud of the work being done, which he said has community leader award.
(with) the different human service agencies,” he said. “It was had a positive impact on the community. He recalled one case “I never really thought of myself that way but was just doing
having an impact, and helping them to their job better and more that has stayed with him, where a woman wrote a thank-you what I felt I should do,” he said.
effectively, to try and bring down their calls for service.” letter, describing her situation. » jaustin@brandonsun.com
Grant said he was inspired him to bring the idea to Brandon, “She couldn’t actually believe that a police officer and a » Twitter: @jillianaustin
Fuelled by empathy and compassion, Longstreet tackles the meth crisis

BY ERIN DEBOOY
Kim Longstreet has walked the walk, and now she’s talking
the talk.
Always up to fight for the underdog, Longstreet has used her
personal experience, empathy and passion to advocate for a
better community.
“I’m very touched that somebody feels that I’m worthy to put
my name forward (for a Community Leader Award),”
Longstreet said.
“You do what you do because you know it’s the right thing
to do. I don’t do what I do for people to tell me that I’m doing
a great job or give me awards, I do it because if you don’t, who
else is going to?”
A member of the Brandon Bear Clan since the group’s
inception last June, Longstreet said she has never missed a patrol.
The group has embarked on 105 patrols so far, walking
countless kilometres and dedicating numerous hours to making Kim Longstreet has become an
downtown Brandon a safer place. advocate for more resources to
Through the Bear Clan, Longstreet set up a GoFundMe page help with addiction recovery after
within 24 hours of Massey Manor residents were evacuated watching her son deal with an
from their home after a devastating fire ripped through addiction to methamphetamine.
downtown Brandon on May Long Weekend, which has raised (Tim Smith/The Brandon Sun)
more than $13,500 to date.
But the biggest piece of Longstreet rests with the lack of
resources in the community for people who are struggling with an wrote 11 letters to politicians from the federal level down, Manitoba.
substance abuse. receiving responses from each and every one of them. The foundation’s ultimate goal is to develop a healing centre
Longstreet’s son is an IV meth user. She presented her struggles to city council and held a town in the Westman area that will provide holistic (body, mind,
In his 20s, Longstreet’s son started getting wrapped up in the hall to discuss the addiction plaguing Brandon, sending a ripple spirit) treatment for those that are struggling with substance use
drug scene, she said. The first time she was aware there was a effect through the community with her call to action. disorders.
problem was when he overdosed on ecstasy that had horse Longstreet said she’s currently focused on helping the Although sometimes the length of time things can take to
tranquilizer in it. Addictions Foundation of Manitoba expand their facility in happen can be frustrating, Longstreet said she feels optimistic
When meth came into the picture, her son became homeless. Brandon in order to create long-term rehabilitation for recovering that change is on the horizon.
In more recent months, Longstreet said she has witnessed her addicts. “I’m a fighter, I’ve always been a fighter,” Longstreet said. “I
son try and get help with his addiction, but wait times and short Through her foundation, the RJ Streetz Foundation, would rather give than receive … It’s really important to me to
treatment programs have created a hindrance rather than Longstreet said she plans to continue fundraising to enhance give back to the community.”
providing help. the programs and services for people who have substance abuse » edebooy@brandonsun.com
In May 2017, Longstreet took a leave of absence from work issues, in conjunction with the Addictions Foundation of » Twitter: @erindebooy