Super Volunteer! –

If you started volunteering in one of the Hastings Sunrise CPC volunteer programs, there is a very good chance that you will meet Kajol Gounder sooner than later.

She came to the HSCPC in August 2020 and is now one of our most involved individuals: Kajol is a patrol team shift leader one evening a week, works the front office one afternoon a week and joins road safety shifts whenever she can. She also actively participates in CPC outreach events, such as Shredding Day, and just recently got hired as a member of our Sunrise Safety Team.

Kajol found her way to the CPC very early on in life as she and her sister participated in Community Cleanup events during high school. “I came back to the CPC last year in order to learn about law enforcement, get to know other volunteers and become more comfortable talking to people. I have found all of these things at the CPC,” Kajol explains.

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Watch for Catalytic Converter Thieves! –

Your vehicle likely has a small treasure trove of precious metals hidden underneath it – and thieves armed with power saws and grinders are out to steal it.

Catalytic converters are part of the exhaust system, meant to reduce pollutants. They contain metals such as platinum, rhodium and palladium, whose value has risen sharply in recent years.

Thieves can slip under your vehicle, using a jack if necessary, and cut out the converter in less than two minutes. They can sell it to metal recyclers for up to several hundred dollars. The recyclers then extract the metal and resell it for a huge profit; as of mid-October of this year, rhodium was valued at US$14,000 an ounce!

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ICBC Pedestrian Safety Campaign –

When drivers fail to yield, pedestrians pay the price. Busy intersections and shorter days mean that drivers need to be extra careful during fall and winter.

As the weather changes and daylight hours decrease, pedestrians become more vulnerable.

Nearly half (44 per cent) of all crashes with pedestrians happen between October and January. Even when drivers proceed with caution, it’s hard to see pedestrians when visibility is poor.

In B.C., 79 per cent of crashes involving pedestrians happen at intersections. Whether it’s taking a break from your phone or yielding the right-of-way, we all need to do our part to keep pedestrians safe.

You can get your free pedestrian reflector at our office at 2620 East Hastings Street while supplies last!

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Fall Distracted Driving Campaign  –

Distracted Driving continues to be a leading contributing factor in fatal car crashes, where roughly one in four fatal crashes on B.C. roads involves driver distraction. That’s why, for the month of September, ICBC and police around the province are encouraging drivers to leave their phones alone.

We all play a part in making our roads safe – when you’re behind the wheel, focus on the road!

If you’re looking at your phone, you can’t see the road

Checking your phone at a red light may seem harmless, but the truth is using an electronic device behind the wheel is a dangerous distraction. Even when stopped, it affects your focus. You’re five times more likely to crash if you’re using your hand-held phone.

Leave your phone alone #EyesFwdBC

Resisting the temptation of e-mails, texts, calls, posts and cat videos can be hard but it can be done similar to being at the movies, at customs, during takeoff or landing. Think of all the times that you don’t feel like taking a break from your phone but do!

The cost of distracted driving

If you’re caught distracted driving, you’ll be ticketed and receive a fine of $368.

Every ticket for distracted driving also adds four driver penalty points to your driving record. If you have four or more points at the end of a 12-month period, you pay a driver penalty point (DPP) premium. These premiums start at $252 and increase for every point you accumulate. You may also have to pay a driver risk premium if you get more than one distracted driving ticket in a three-year period.

With increased enforcement throughout B.C., multiple infractions can now put a serious dent in your wallet.

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Cleanups Are Back: Join Us! –

“Talking trash” can be a good thing – if you’re talking about the Community Cleanups staged every second Saturday by the Hastings Sunrise Community Policing Centre!

After a lull during earlier stages of the Covid-19 pandemic, the program is back in full swing. Community members are invited to register in advance (see below *).
“We’ll stroll through a neighbourhood at 10am looking for trash that can fit in our bag,” says HSCPC volunteer Sampson Hsieh. “We provide the equipment – safety vest, gloves, tongs and bags.
“Each participant gets different things out of it. We have student participants attend as it’s part of their school volunteer requirements. We’ve had friends and families attend as an activity to do together. I’ve had a father bring his son and daughter, to set an example what it’s like to be a grown-up. I’ve also had participants attend just to meet different people.
“They all leave feeling satisfied, knowing that they made a difference in the community.”

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Provincial Impaired Driving Campaign –

Sadly, each year in B.C., 67 people die in crashes involving impaired driving. Almost half of those deaths happen during the summer, meanwhile other deaths happen during what should be joyous celebrations during the December holidays. 

No matter what time of year, there are many options to get home safely if you’ve had a drink or two. So, whether it’s after work or play, make the smart choice. Remember, the best time to decide how to get home responsibly is before you start drinking.

Police across the province look for impaired drivers at CounterAttack roadchecks during summer and winter. ICBC supports enforcement activities such as roadchecks to help make our roads safer for everyone.

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Health Care Expands in Northeast Vancouver –

Hastings Sunrise and surrounding neighbourhoods have a new health care hub situated at 2788 East Hastings. The Northeast Urgent and Primary Care Centre, operated by Coastal Health, opened Feb. 16.

Currently, urgent care is available for clients who need medical assistance within 12 to 24 hours but can’t see their own primary health care provider in that time, or do not have one.

Ana Fernandez, the centre’s manager, explains that “the centre is not for life threatening situations, but functions as a walk-in clinic that anyone can access without a referral”. Patients who are unsure if the clinic is suitable for their needs are encouraged to call 811 where a nurse will be able to help them assess where to go.

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Safety Team Moves Into Boundary Area –

Big changes are coming to the East Hastings business area from Cassiar to Boundary Road – and your BIA/CPC partnership will be there to help.

That section of the “East Village” has long been served by the Hastings Sunrise Community Policing Centre (CPC), but now the Hastings North Business Improvement Association (BIA) has expanded eastward to represent this rapidly changing business area.

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New Wage Subsidies –

A wage subsidy program offered by the Vancouver North East WorkBC Centre is an opportunity for employers to re-hire laid-off employees, hire new ones, and connect with WorkBC clients looking for jobs. This is one of the multiple employment support programs offered by MOSAIC BC.

For eligible employers and job-seekers, the new and revised program subsidizes wages for up to 24 weeks. WorkBC staff will help with applications, and then follow up with support and monitoring.

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Mobile Support for Mental Health –

Working at the Community Policing Centre in Hastings Sunrise, our staff and volunteers see more and more people on the streets who live with mental disorders such as schizophrenia or drug-induced psychosis.

Most encounters don’t necessarily pose a threat to the people involved, but supporting people with mental illness can be difficult and confusing. The HSCPC’s goal has been to help people in mental distress as best we can, so we have spent more time on educating ourselves about available resources.

I recently had the chance to spend a shift with Constable Ian Mayne of the Vancouver Police Department (VPD) and Kyle Andersen of Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH). They are part of the VPD Assertive Outreach Team (AOT) that provides short-term transitional support for clients with complex mental health issues.

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