On November 22nd Councillors Joe Swan and Stephen Orser brought the Kipps Lane Area Community together for a town hall meeting at Sir George Ross Secondary School near Belfield and Kipps Lane.
The well attended meeting was joined by representatives from Neighbourhood Watch, Crime Stoppers, the LPS, Representatives from City Community & Social Services, community groups and the new 211 Call Centre.
Councillor Swan asked residents to share what they liked about their community and point out problems as well. Members of the panel discussed their areas of expertise
Some of the items identified as positives were: the newly renovated Ed Blake Park, the nearby trail system next to the Thames, the area’s diverse community and neighbours, and quality elementary schools, homework clubs and soccer nights run by David Cottril of Life Resources. More programs like these are needed.
City of London Community Services Director, Mr. Ross Fair, indicated that expansion of services at the Northbrae Hub is in the 2012 budget which will soon be examined by Council. He indicated the need to reconnect families to the schools which their children attend.
LPS representatives from the Community Oriented Response Unit discussed their “drugs and gangs task force.” One Constable indicated the need for residents to promptly call the COR unit if they see suspicious behaviour in their neighbourhood. He also discussed the undercover work that LPS officers are performing in the Kipps, Huron-Boullee area and other sections of the City.
Hope Clark gave an excellent presentation on the City’s Neighbourhood Watch Program and Andrew Lockie introduced London’s new 211 system which anyone can call to find the right community and social services. This new system will reduce the confusion that residents have in reaching the right person and the right office for their needs.
Lastly, Mark Rose, Leader of the Kipps Lane & Community Association spoke of the work that this group has been doing over the past two years. They meet the first Wednesday of each month of the month at the Northbrae Hub.
It should be noted that the leaders of the Bridle Path Tenants Association (BPTA) and NELCE were also in attendance. Of course a great deal of the information assembled by the Kipps Lane Community Association (2004-2010) can be found in http://www.northeastender.ca even though the KLCA folded in 2010.
Items identified as persistent problems include:
Traffic diverted from Huron to Kipps Lane causing safety and traffic problems. Flashing lights or intersections may be needed according to one resident.
Parking problems around the newly renovated Ed Blake Park. Ward 4 Councillor Stephen Orser indicated that he is working with staff to correct this problem.
Underage children and teens who are out on the streets late at night or early into the morning.
Children who are bussed out of Kipps Lane Area for school have no after school activities. Facilities for programming are inadequate to the need.
Several residents brought up the idea of changing the name of Kipps Lane. Others opposed it.
One woman indicated that a young child in diapers arrived at her door late at night and parents were nowhere to be found. Another woman spoke of parents providing poor role models to children and youth by using profane language, engaging in domestic fights and drinking alcohol in front of children.
Lack of trust in London Police Services. One woman called Police but said she was treated rudely by attending officer. Another man said that he was treated poorly by an officer in the COR unit when he called in a problem.
Councillor Orser stated that “he had never seen a member of the Kipps Lane Crew.” David Dimitrie challenged him on that point with the London Free Press coverage of the Jodie Hoogstra murder trial which finished a few weeks ago.
As the former leader of the Kipps Lane Community Association (2004-2010) and current tenants’ advocate I applauded the improvements that have been made to the Kipps Lane Area in the last 10 years. I referred to the improvements in Ed Blake Park as a “miracle.” I also congratulated the City in the many improvements to parks and recreations programs in the area over the last 5 years.
Still I pointed out that the BIG problems of Crime, Violence, Vandalism, Poverty and Social decline in the Kipps Lane Area have not been touched. The fact that seniors and disabled tenants have been totally forgotten in the Kipps Lane Initiative process is a shameful legacy of this City program.
Councillor Swan thanked all who came out on such a cold, rainy night. He pledged to continue on with the work that everyone in attendance had begun. As the former leader of the Kipps Lane Community Association I helped put on two meetings at Ross and I know that it takes many people and hours of work to put together these meetings.
The residents of Wards 3 and 4 appreciate the hard work of all involved.
