Peterborough Lakefield Community Police Chief Terry McLaren says the police services board donated $10,000 because it has faith in the Peaceful Communities project.

"(The board) believes in violence prevention and whatever we can all do to make (Peterborough) a peaceful community," the chief says. "The board is impressed with the work the committee is doing and the outcomes of the forum."

The Peaceful Communities steering committee consists of a number of community partners who co-ordinate peace-building initiatives. Spearheaded by representatives from 12 local and regional agencies, the project’s overall goal is to reduce and eliminate violence in Peterborough City and County.

"We were very pleased with their generosity," says Lynn Zimmer, executive director of the YWCA of Peterborough Victoria and Haliburton and chair of the steering group.

She says the money will be earmarked for the core expenses of the project over the next year. The group's plans include making presentations to community groups about the research and how to use it, developing measurable indicators of a peaceful community and initiating a training institute to educate people in appreciative inquiry methods.

The group hosted a community forum last fall, where more than 230 people gathered to hear about and discuss violence prevention. While the group’s efforts so far have focused on research, the committee is now working on a tangible phase three component of the project. This component will bring together people who will address specific violence-prevention issues that arose from the research and the forum. The committee will also make information available to all residents about how to initiate peace-building efforts in their schools and workplaces.

“The more people who get involved, the better,” says the chief. “The reaching impact will be a less violent community – a community less tolerant to violence.”

Chief McLaren suspects the Peaceful Communities project will be tracked by other communities, since it is a new initiative. “It’s like none other that has been done before,” he says.

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