A First in Quebec: A collaboration protocol is developed to prevent and detect violence in a school setting

18 september 2013

Montreal, September 18, 2013 - The Service de police de la Ville de Montréal (SPVM), Vanguard School, the Centre jeunesse de Montréal-Institut universitaire (CJM-IU), and Batshaw Youth and Family Centres signed a protocol today to prevent and detect violence in a school setting.

In the past few years there have been several tragic events in school settings, including École Polytechnique, Concordia University and more recently, Dawson College, which have all contributed to creating an increased level of anxiety amongst students, parents, school staff, and the population in general. This protocol is a pilot project – the first of its kind in Quebec. It will permit the rapid intervention of a multidisciplinary team who will be responsible to detect, more easily and quickly, risks of potential violence and to offer a better support to youth who are susceptible of committing acts of violence.

Mrs. Carolyn Coffin-Caputo, Director General of VanguardSchool, noted that school principals and staff play a critical role in the prevention of violence. “To feel safe in a school, the student must feel that the environment in which he is in does not tolerate any form of violence. This protocol will allow members of the multidisciplinary team to react quickly and effectively to all forms of violence, even the most subtle.”

For Marc Parent, Director of the Service de police de la Ville de Montréal, early detection of situations of violence and our manner of responding is the outcome of a heightened cooperation between the different sectors. “What we must remember here is that, beyond the signature of the protocol, there is a whole community who decided to work hand in hand to protect youth in elementary and high schools. We have a solid partnership where each partner offers an added value in a project that aims for a common goal”, noted Mr. Parent.

For Margaret Douek, Executive Director of Batshaw Youth and Family Centres, the pilot project requires an adjustment period: “The challenge we now face within our organizations is to disseminate and ensure widespread knowledge of both the protocol and the guidelines for practical implementation. I sincerely hope that we will not have to apply this protocol at all but I feel more confident in the knowledge that its existence will help prevent future tragedies from occurring through a concerted effort.”

Mr. Jean-Marc Potvin, Executive Director of the Centre jeunesse de montréal-Institut Universitaire (CJM-IU), reiterated the desire of all partners to accompany and support youth who are going through difficult times and for whom a swift action is required: “By our presence here today, and especially by the work accomplished to create this protocol and the work that will be required to keep it alive, we officialise our collective will of being proactive and efficient for the well-being and security of our youth in their school environment.”

The multi-disciplinary team will be composed of a police officer, a psychologist, psychosocial professionals and members of the administrative team of VanguardSchool.

This protocol is valid for a two year period. It can be renewed following an evaluation of the results of this protocol and the recommendations of the partners.

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 Source:

Module relations médias

Section des communications corporatives

SPVM

514 280 2015

 

Mrs. Carolyn Coffin-Caputo

Executive Director – VanguardSchool

514 747-5500, ext: 6300

 

Mrs. Claire Roy,

Manager, Communications and Public Relations

Batshaw Youth and Family Centres

514 989-1885, ext: 1017

 

Mrs. Jocelyne Boudreault

Information Agent – Centre Jeunesse de Montréal – Institut universitaire (CJM-IU)

514 593-3013