REACH Edmonton Council for Safe Communities is a capacity-building organization that collaborates with community partners to make Edmonton a safer and more vibrant place to live, work and play.
Focusing on preventative approaches, REACH Edmonton brings together community groups, service agencies and government with the ultimate goal of preventing violence to create safe communities.
In 2008, Mayor Stephen Mandel created a 25-person task force on Community Safety. The Mayor directed the task force to address the root causes of crime and provide suggestions that would make a lasting difference.
The work of the task force was summarized in the 2009 REACH Report, which contains 9 recommendations to make Edmonton a safer community. The recommendations focused on:
- Investing in youth and children
- Driving change in the coordination and delivery of programs to reduce crime
- Seeking out and developing community leaders who support and promote prevention
Core Recommendation
Establishing a new leadership body for community safety was a fundamental recommendation of the report.
In 2010, REACH was established as an overarching centre for promoting and sustaining community safety.
REACH is not an acronym
The name was chosen to reflect reaching out to help and include all Edmontonians, and reaching for new goals and ways of working.
REACH Edmonton builds on a 15-year legacy of collaborative and leading-edge approaches to community safety. Its role is to initiate, coordinate and integrate, not duplicate what already exists. REACH helps bring community solutions to life, identify new opportunities, and support and enhance existing good work.
The organization is involved in more than 30 citywide projects that take diverse approaches to community safety and wellness. Initiatives address focus areas that have an impact on community safety, such as:
- Addiction and mental health problems
- Anti-racism
- Indigenization and newcomer experience
- Children, youth and family well-being
- Crisis diversion
- Human trafficking and exploitation
- Safe and inclusive neighbourhoods
Partnership Success
REACH's success relies on a true spirit of collaboration, working with:
- All 3 levels of government
- The Edmonton Police Service
- Community organizations
- The corporate sector
Contact Us
REACH Edmonton Council for Safe Communities
Email info@reachedmonton.ca
Phone 780-498-1231
Fax 780-498-1266
Link https://www.reachedmonton.ca
Address Suite 901 Baker Centre 10025 - 106 Street Edmonton, AB T5J 1