The City of Thompson and residential landlord Murray Kadys became signatories of the Thompson Neighbourhood Renewal Corporation's (TNRC) community safety charter at a ceremony Feb. 16 at City Hall.
"I think one of the jobs for the City of Thompson is to work in terms of creating the kind of environment for people to feel comfortable," said Mayor Tim Johnston, who signed the charter on behalf of council and the City of Thompson. "This council went out and developed a plan and public safety was the cornerstone. We want people to feel that they're safe."
The community service charter asks signatories to "commit to assuming your share of the responsibility in helping to achieve the common target of reducing crime, saving lives and making our community safer."
Charlene Lafreniere, who is both a city councillor and the executive director of the TNRC, said signing the charter isn't an empty pledge.
"You have to actually come up with an action," she said, which should be tangible and able to be monitored, with a two-year duration and a six-month follow-up. It's open to anybody who wants to sign on. "We've had young people do it, we've also had businesses."
Kadys of Century 21 realty, which manages several apartment buildings, is the first residential landlord to join the TNRC's lightning program, and his commitment includes putting up and maintaining lighting at those buildings.
"I think some of the work that the TNRC has done has to get the discussion out in the community is absolutely instrumental in terms of changing that sense of personal safety," said Johnston.
