Pedestrian Safety for Kids!  –

Know the rules. Learn traffic signs and their meaning. Always follow the rules.

Listen. Put away all electronic gadgets and earbuds while walking. You can hear approaching traffic that may be hard to see.

Look both ways. Make sure all vehicles have stopped before crossing the road. Make eye contact with drivers before crossing, even when you have a walk signal.

Map it out. Plan your walking route with your parents before you go. Review street names and landmarks.

Be seen. Wear bright clothes and/or reflective gear, especially at night and in poor weather.

Parked vehicles. Avoid shortcuts through parking lots or around parked cars. It’s harder for people to see you and for you to see them.

Set a good example. Never run across the street. When you can, cross at intersections with a pedestrian crossing light or marked crosswalk.

Continue reading “Pedestrian Safety for Kids!” →

Gathering Our Journeys Across Borders: A Community Circle of Immigrant Stories & Holiday Grief Circle–

The Hastings Sunrise Community Policing Centre is hosting two dialogue circles in collaboration with Frog Hollow Neighbourhood House, Peace of the Circle and Vancouver Public Library.

Both circles will be facilitated by peacemakers from Restorative City Vancouver and held at the Vancouver Public Library Hastings branch (2674 East Hastings Street). For more information, and to register, please contact Nina at ninak@hscpc.com or call 604-717-3584.

Refreshments will be served at both events! Please see posters for details. 

Continue reading “Dialogue Circles” →

Meet our 1000th Volunteer!  –

 Say hello to Chloe! She’s just become the 1000th person to join our volunteer team – we’re so thrilled to have you!

To our newest volunteer, and the 999 before her: through your dedication, hard work, and passion, you’ve helped us make real, lasting change in the Hastings-Sunrise community and beyond. 

If you, or someone you know, is interested in volunteering with us, please register for one of our upcoming information sessions. You can find more information here: https://hastingssunrisecpc.com/volunteer/

Volunteers from Around the World  –

Did you know that the Hastings Sunrise Community Policing Centre (HSCPC) has more than 100 volunteers?  Among them, they speak 23 different languages and come from many countries and backgrounds with a wealth of skills and ambitions.

Many came to Canada to seek better opportunities and pursue their dreams, something that Canadians may take for granted, but was unattainable for some of the HSCPC’s volunteers in their home countries.

Fahima, 21, found her way to the HSCPC last year after attending the Vancouver Police Department’s (VPD) New Kids Police Academy and then joining the VPD Cadet program. She has also been awarded the green belt in police judo! Fahima completed an associate certificate in Business at BCIT and will enter the Law Enforcement Studies program at the Justice Institute of BC this fall.

 Fahima came to Canada in 2020 with her parents and seven siblings after her native Kabul, Afghanistan, had grown increasingly unsafe, especially for girls and women. Her father, a human rights activist who had worked for the United Nations, had come to Canada in 2017 seeking safety for his family with the threat of the Islamic fundamentalist Taliban regaining power.

 Fahima always knew that that she wanted to be a police officer, but one event consolidated her decision: “When I was 12, a suicide bomber attacked the all-girls school I attended, and the Special Forces came to our rescue. It was right then and there that I decided that I wanted to do something equally meaningful with my life. I didn’t want to be just a survivor, but to actually live,” says Fahima. Volunteering with the HSCPC and being part of its Sunrise Safety Team is a stepping stone to becoming a VPD police officer. When she’s not working or volunteering at the HSCPC, Fahima also works as a security officer at a casino and assists VPD with role-play scenarios to train police constables.

Continue reading “Volunteers from Around the World” →

Justice Institute: A Valued Partner  –

If you have been to any outreach events this summer in the Hastings Sunrise neighbourhood, there is a good chance that you chatted with our practicum students Ravleen and Brendan, both enrolled in the Law Enforcement Studies Program at the Justice Institute of BC (JIBC). The Hastings Sunrise Community Policing Centre (HSCPC) has been collaborating with the JIBC for many years, and mentoring practicum students each summer is just one part of it.

It is crucially important for both partners to help students learn more about social issues, equity and diversity and help them enter communities as leaders, especially if they want to pursue a law enforcement career. Enter Community Integrated Learning, an approach that focuses on the needs and desires identified by the community in which the students work. To make the summer practicum an experience for students that fosters connection and understanding while also ensuring reciprocity and longevity for both the program and the local neighbourhood, the JIBC has received a three-year grant from the College and Community Social Innovation Fund. The goal is to deepen the collaboration between community partners and JIBC to make the Law Enforcement Studies Program a hands-on experience that enriches students’ personal and professional development journeys and makes them more empathetic and capable leaders and role models.

Continue reading “Justice Institute: A Valued Partner” →

Steer Clear of Distraction Thefts –

Const. Todd Blower, our Community Policing Officer, has advice on how to cope with the increasing prevalence of “distraction thefts”:

Distraction theft is when one or more people use trickery, diversions or sleight of hand to steal from your person or vehicle. Typical locations for these incidents include ATMs, retail stores, parking lots, and even your own residence or yard.

Victims of these incidents tend to be elderly, trusting, or have English as a second language. Offenders typically look for people who are alone and preoccupied.

These situations are far more prevalent in the summer as more people are out and about. Offenders tend to be transient in nature and, more likely than not, utilize rental vehicles (mainly from Ontario or Alberta).

Frequently children are used in this scam as decoys and to make you sympathetic to their story. Many times, people will approach as you are preoccupied and invade your personal space, either overwhelming you with a story of financial distress or grabbing at your wrists or jewelry. Most will offer you fake jewelry for sale or trade and place the items on your person while taking your own jewelry, using sleight of hand. The encounter tends to be very short in duration. 

Distraction thefts are difficult for police to investigate as they are so brief in nature and many victims won’t even realize something has occurred until the suspects are long gone.

Items stolen are typically jewelry and money.

Continue reading “Steer Clear of Distraction Thefts” →

Peace Circles Prepare To Launch  –

Exciting things have been happening behind the scenes at the Hastings Sunrise CPC! We are preparing to launch a new restorative justice program to help resolve conflict in the community through restorative practice.

The program, Bridging Divides, is using Peace Circles to bring people together, gain understanding, resolve issues, heal and build relationships. Peace Circles can be used in workplace and neighbour disputes, community building, cultural and social dialogues, and much more.

The facilitators, called peacemakers, are trained to thoughtfully guide and work with community members as they participate in the circle process through the stages of suitability, preparation, gathering and follow up. The peacemakers have refined their skills by facilitating dialogue circles with various groups in Hastings Sunrise, for example exploring what a peaceful community looks like, and how local organizations can collaborate more successfully.

“It has been such an insightful journey, learning more about how to design an inclusive process where participants feel safe and supported to share their concerns in a dialogue that focuses on healing and finding consensus, rather than placing blame or punishment,” says Tommy Luong, a peacemaker and HSCPC board president.

Continue reading “Peace Circles Prepare To Launch” →

Point, Shoot… and Donate!  –

Here’s another way to connect with your Hastings Sunrise CPC.

Point your phone camera at this QR code and click. It will take you to our website where you can learn about what we do and how you can help.

If you can’t volunteer your time to help the HSCPC foster a safe, clean and livable community, consider making tax-deductible donations. You’ll join a growing number of financial supporters who have seen the benefits we bring to our corner of Vancouver.

All donations help to fill the gap between the basic funding from the city and other grants, and the actual cost of providing all our services.

See our website at http://hastingssunrisecpc.com/donation/ to sign up for one-time or monthly donations, or visit our office at 2620 East Hastings St.  We are a charitable non-profit organization. Tax receipts are provided for donations totaling $20 or more.

Our New Volunteer Coordinator  –

(Carmen Ma recently joined the Hastings Sunrise CPC staff. We asked her to introduce herself – so she chose to talk to her future self! We hope you enjoy her insights.)

Hi Carmen, it’s me, you.

I don’t know how old you are when you’re reading this letter, but I hope you are still learning lots, fostering meaningful relationships, giving back to the community, and are as happy as I am now, maybe even more! I recently started a cool, new job as Volunteer and Program Coordinator at the Hastings Sunrise Community Policing Centre. Do you remember how we landed this job? We didn’t believe in fate before, but after this, we do now.

Back in December 2024, a friend had sent you a job posting because she thought of you the moment she read the job description. They were looking for someone to recruit, manage and support volunteers. She knew you’d be perfect for the job because you’ve dedicated most of your life to volunteering.

But you weren’t ready at the time to pursue a part time role, so you didn’t apply. You kept applying to jobs that you had no interest in and jobs that didn’t align with your core values, and jobs that were traditionally “safe” jobs.

Continue reading “Our New Volunteer Coordinator” →

Bright Moments Connect Our Elders  –

Hastings Sunrise has more than its share of seniors – and they have a new opportunity to meet, learn and socialize.

According to the 2016 Census, 17.5 per cent of our community are seniors aged 65 and up, compared with a city-wide average of 15.5 per cent.

The new program is Bright Moments, a friendly and informative seniors outreach program offered by the Hastings branch, Vancouver Public Library, in partnership with the Hastings Sunrise Community Policing Centre (HSCPC). Bright Moments events are held monthly alternating between the HSCPC boardroom and the Hastings Library community room.

Julia McKnight, branch head at the Hastings library, says it offers seniors greater learning experiences by connecting them to specific library programs and supporting their need for information about health, digital literacy, safety and cyber (internet) security. The March 8 event at the library featured dialogue on pedestrian safety by Vancouver Police Constable Holly Christie, a former neighbourhood police officer. The group of about 20 seniors socialized over light food, tea and coffee.

To recognize International Women’s Day, five-year volunteer Lily made colourful flowered bookmarks for all. Lily is an excellent greeter as well – always near the entrance, ready to greet and welcome.

Continue reading “Bright Moments Connect Our Elders” →

Shredding Day // May 3rd @ 10 AM to 1 PM  –

Mark your calendars everyone! Our popular Shredding Day fundraiser, in cooperation with the Hastings North Business Improvement Association and RecordXpress, will be back on Saturday, May 3rd from 10 AM to 1 PM in the Hastings Sunrise parking lot (2500 Franklin Street). 

The suggested donation is $10 per box and all proceeds go to the Hastings Sunrise Community Policing Centre to keep our community safe and thriving!

Shredding Day is a great opportunity to safely dispose of personal documents that are no longer needed. RecordXpress will be on site that day to securely destroy your documents. 

Distracted Driving Awareness Month  –

The month of March is focused on ICBC’s  Distracted Driving campaign to raise awareness and educate British Columbians on the importance of safe and focused driving.

Distracted driving continues to be a major issue in B.C., and a leading cause of fatal crashes.

Police across B.C. will be ramping up enforcement throughout March, and we will be working with ICBC and our volunteers to set up Cell Watch deployments to remind drivers to leave their phones alone.

Tips to stay safe on the road:

• Driving requires your full attention, so set yourself up for zero distractions before you start driving.
• Turn off your phone or enable “do not disturb” mode before you start driving. This minimizes distractions and helps you focus on the road. Also consider turning on “silent mode” or “do not disturb”.
• Keep your phone out of sight and out of mind. Store it in a closed glove box or centre console before you start driving.
• Plan your route in advance. Program your GPS and review directions before you start driving. If you need to adjust your route, pull over. 
• Travel safe by planning ahead. Set realistic travel times and be mindful of how traffic and delays may impact your plan.

Non-emergency Calls Made Easier  –

911 calls are your lifeline to reach police, fire or ambulance. In 2023, people in British Columbia called that number 2,342,892 times!

Less dramatic – but still important – are the calls made to non-emergency lines, and those calls have now been made easier for callers in Hastings Sunrise and across the Lower Mainland and Sea to Sky region.

A new interactive software system has been launched by E-Comm, the agency that handles 911 calls here. Callers to non-emergency have more options when they call during peak hours of 7 am to 9pm:

• Estimated wait times are now provided
• Callers can request a call back instead of waiting on hold
• Call takers can send police file numbers to callers via SMS text.

Continue reading “Non-emergency Calls Made Easier” →

Thank you, Dine-for-Safety Dinner Supporters!  –

More than $12,000 was raised at our 5th annual Dine-for-Safety Dinner, held Oct. 22 at Tamam Restaurant.

All funds will go toward providing crime prevention and safety programs to Hastings Sunrise residents and businesses.

Forty companies and individuals supported the event. Guests enjoyed delicious food, a silent auction and a live auction, all in a good cause!

Continue reading “Thank you, Dine-for-Safety Dinner Supporters!” →

Community Safety is an All-ages Event  –

Like any family, our Hastings Sunrise CPC family works best with a mix of generations. The energy of our younger volunteers is balanced with the wisdom and life experience of our elders.

We invite you to meet three of our valued volunteers – retired from their careers but still happy to help make their community safer, cleaner and more liveable.

Lily Gee was a public librarian for 40 years. She was also vice-president of her family cleaning business, and worked at many historic sporting events, including the 2010 Olympics women’s ice hockey gold medal game, the men’s final, and the last game of the 2011 Stanley Cup playoffs.

These days she enjoys her garden, photography, and quality time with family and friends.

But Lily is not one to take it easy. For years she has diligently supported other seniors through her local neighbourhood house. In 2019 she joined the HSCPC as a volunteer.

Continue reading “Community Safety is an All-ages Event” →