VISION
Ottawa is a community in which individuals, families and neighbourhoods are safe and feel safe.
MISSION
To contribute to crime prevention and enhanced community safety and well-being in Ottawa through collaborative, evidence-informed initiatives.
GOALS
- To act as the consultative body for the preparation of the City of Ottawa’s Community Safety and Well-Being plan as required by statute, as well as for the review process for the plan as may be required.
- To develop a community-wide strategic plan to reduce crime and enhance community safety in Ottawa.
- To implement specific targeted crime prevention programs and to support programs through appropriate community agencies and associations.
- To assist and support community groups and the City in acquiring, developing or enhancing the tools needed to operate programs to increase safety.
- To seek the funds and create partnerships essential for sustaining long-term crime prevention programs.
- To promote policy solutions to issues of crime and disorder.
- To monitor and evaluate on an ongoing basis the progress and impacts of plans and implementation.
ACCOUNTABILITY
Crime Prevention Ottawa was founded by the City of Ottawa and it is jointly responsible to the City of Ottawa and to the greater community of Ottawa through an annual report to City Council and to the Community Forum. Crime Prevention Ottawa is also accountable to the City of Ottawa to act as the advisory committee for the Community Safety and Well-Being plan as required by the Safer Ontario Act.
Crime Prevention Ottawa is governed and guided by a Board of Directors, which is sets strategic direction, assures sound financial management and hires an Executive Director. The Executive Director reports to the Board of Directors.
Crime Prevention Ottawa consults with a Community Forum made up of stakeholders concerned with community safety and crime prevention. The Community Forum advises the Board of Directors, with regards to emerging issues in the community, priorities and successes.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The Board of Directors shall be made up of no more that 20 members and no less than 16 members. It is a broad representation of the community and of institutions which contribute to safety in our community. The Board will be reflective of the community of Ottawa including consideration of balance with regards to ethno cultural diversity, the English and French communities, gender, rural-suburban-urban concerns and youth and seniors issues.
Appointments
The Board of Directors shall include two categories of membership: those who are appointed by the key institutions and general representative members. The Board includes but is not limited to:
Appointments by the founding institutions:
- One elected municipal official as appointed by Council
- The Mayor or his or her designate
- A General Manager of the City of Ottawa
- The Chief of the Ottawa Police Service
- A representative of the Ottawa Police Services Board
- One Director of Education (as appointed by the OCRI K-12 Educational Leadership Group)
- The President of the United Way
- The Executive Director of the Children’s Aid Society of Ottawa
- The CEO of Ottawa Community Housing Corporation
- A person who represents an entity that provides community or social services in the municipality.
- A person who represents an entity that provides community or social services to children or youth in the municipality.
- A representative of the local health integration network or a major health care institution.
General Representatives:
- Up to seven representatives of the community as appointed by Council. These representatives will include a selection from: business, community associations, community service providers.
- At least one academic or researcher with expertise on matters related to community safety as appointed by Council
Terms of Office
General representatives on the Board of Directors are appointed for a period of up to 4 years with a possibility of being renewed once. The term of the institutional representatives shall coincide with their term of office.
Removal of Directors
The Board of Directors reserves the right, by a vote of a simple majority, to remove members for non-attendance at meetings and other exceptional circumstances.
COMMUNITY FORUM
The Community Forum is an advisory body. It gives feedback to the Board of Directors with regards to planning and operations and advises with regards to emerging issues in the community, priorities and successes. The Community Forum is made up of a broad representation of the community and of institutions which contribute to safety. The Forum will be reflective of the community of Ottawa including consideration of balance with regards to ethno cultural diversity, the English and French communities, gender, rural-suburban-urban concerns and youth and seniors issues.
Appointments
Members of the Community Forum shall be appointed by the Board of Directors based on a broad public recruitment in partnership with the City Advisory Committees unit. The Forum will be comprised of at least 30 representatives or individuals but no more than 60 representatives or individuals.
Term of Office
Members of the Community Forum are appointed for a period of up to 4 years with a possibility of being renewed once with the exception of the first appointees. The first group of appointees will be randomly divided into 2 or 4 year appointments to create a rotation of positions.
Removal of Members
The Board of Directors reserves the right, by a vote of a simple majority, to remove members for non-attendance at meetings and other exceptional circumstances.
Chair of the Community Forum
The Chair of the Community Forum shall be the Vice Chair of the Board of Directors or another member of the Board of Directors.
Meetings
The Community Forum will meet at least once a year. All meetings of the Forum shall be public meetings.