The Moose Jaw Crime Stoppers organization plays a vital role in the community by providing an anonymous tip line that supports the Moose Jaw Police Service as it works to make the community a safer place to live and work.
Crime Stoppers is a non-profit organization funded entirely by tax deductible contributions from the community. The program is described as a community program run by concerned citizens and offers a channel for anyone to submit anonymous tips that may help contribute to a crime being solved.
As several individuals who could have witnessed a crime may be afraid to come forward with information, the anonymity offered by Crime Stoppers helps police while protecting the identity of those who may fear reprisals or other unintended consequences from their honesty.
To help the local non-profit remain operational, donations from individuals and businesses in the community are a necessity.
At the yearly Crime Stoppers annual general meeting on Feb. 6, one of those good players in the community – Pat Carle representing the Association of Canadian Travellers (ACT/UCT) Council 1027 – presented the organization with a $2,000 cheque towards funding the program into 2024.
"We... help people in need," explained the ACT/UCT's treasurer, Ritchie Yee. "Usually it's (for) citizens of Moose Jaw that are in need of help."
Yee said this assistance goes toward helping anyone who may be going through hard times, such as a recent house fire or other catastrophe, and the organization also assists sport teams such as U-13 hockey clubs, healthcare programs, and students through a yearly scholarship program. In recent years, a few organizations supported by ACT/UCT have included Sask Lung, the Moose Jaw Health Foundation, the Prairie South Bursary Fund, Hunger in Moose Jaw, and the Moose Jaw & District Food Bank.
"We're a proud support of the Crime Stopper's program," said Yee. "It's a unique program to help keep the crime down (which reflects our values)."
Moose Jaw Crime Stopper’s chairman, Lyle Johnson, was on hand to accept the donation. Johnson said the ACT/UCT sponsor has been with Crime Stoppers “since the beginning.”
Historically, members of the ACT/UCT have regularly sat on the Moose Jaw Crime Stopper’s board in addition to providing funding to help support the program.
“Because of their interest and their involvement, we always want to have a member of the ACT organization on our board,” Johnson said.
“(These) organizations sponsor and support the program,” he said earlier at the meeting. “We want to thank them for being good actor community members and making our community a better and safer place by their involvement and contributions.”
In 2023, donations for Moose Jaw Crime Stoppers came from SaskPower, SaskTel, The Kinsmen Club of Moose Jaw, the Lions Club, the RM of Moose Jaw, and the Jim Connolly family. This also included the ACT/UCT Council 1027, which made its additional 2024 contribution on the night of the general meeting.
For more information about Moose Jaw Crime Stoppers, visit MJPolice.ca/resources/crime-stoppers.
To learn more about the work performed by ACT/UCT Council 1027, visit ActUct.com/about-us.html.
