By Leslie Dickson
NewsLeader
Oct 04 2007
When security guards approach a group of teens at Lougheed Town Centre, they are just as likely to stop for a chat as they are to warn against improper behaviour.
That’s because the Lougheed shopping centre is now part of the provincial Youth Asset Network, which seeks to prevent bullying, gang violence, sexual victimization, and criminalization of youth by building relationships between teens and authority figures.
At Lougheed Town Centre, the program has three aims: to reduce youth-related disturbances, shoplifting and policy violations like swearing.
Youth Asset Network program co-ordinator Sukhi Dhillon said similar programs are already in place at Richmond Centre and through the school system in Clearwater.
While each is tailor-made to address issues in individual communities, all have incorporated a positive ticketing program, where guards pass out coupons for rec centre drop-ins and food to youth hanging out at the mall.
“When you’re in a role like a security officer, tickets are the gateway to the relationship,” explained Dhillon.
Once guards build a rapport with youth, they are better able to defuse situations such as fighting in the mall, she added.
But free juice and gym passes are just one piece of the program, as Lougheed will also be holding free events to keep teens busy during after-school hours and handing out Youth Info Cards that list services and resources for youth in Burnaby and New West.
Though the program’s official launch is today (Thursday), Lougheed security supervisor Brent Findley said security guards have been engaging with youth differently since Dhillon’s training session last January.
Already, security guards have dispelled some stereotypes they had about problem youth at the mall.
Findley said officers have realized the majority of youth causing problems at the mall aren’t 16- and 17-year-olds, but those in junior high school, as they haven’t yet developed the maturity of their older peers.
Thanks to the connection Lougheed security guards have already established with teens, some have begun to call the mall security number programmed in their cellphones to report peers shoplifting.
“It’s becoming their mall,” said Findley.
ldickson@burnabynewsleader.com
mario bartel/newsleader
