Colette Squires and Associates

11/09/2023

For me, part of teaching Criminology and Justice is introducing students to those with lived experiences that help bring nuance and humanity to the class. Thank you, Selena Smith, for sharing your inspiring journey of recovery and spiritual transformation, and your work with and .

10/23/2023

Kudos to the Mission Child and Youth Committee for putting on a very successful conference last Friday. Pulling Together: Restorative Practices to Build Safer Communities drew together educators, practitioners, social service providers and youth to talk and learn. It was my privilege to present on restorative practices and how they support human flourishing. And it was great to see friends and colleagues in the field! Here I am with Barry McLeod (Youth Unlimited), and Susan Havinga (Abbotsford Restorative Justice) after my presentation, and with Laura Wilson (MCFD and Early Childhood) at the registration area. The day included a panel of youth giving their perspectives on important questions, which was a very insightful and meaningful part of the day. It's always an honour to be with so many dedicated and compassionate people!

04/12/2023

Our local not-for-profits bring such value to our community. Today it was my delight to have breakfast with Joyce and Director Melissa Johnson from Cyrus Centre Ministries, an organization who helps our most vulnerable youth with emergency shelter and supportive housing, and Dave Wiebe with Youth Unlimited, an organization committed to youth mentorship and outreach. We were attending the annual ACLN Prayer Breakfast, an event that has a 40 year history of bringing together our community leaders once every year to provide encouragement and prayer from our Christian faith communities. It's amazing how many people show up: Mayor and Council members, School Board Trustees, Police and other first responders, our MLAs and MPs. The room was filled with those from the charitable sector as well, and it was great to see so many people under one roof who care so deeply about the people of our community. Today's speaker spoke about the opioid crisis, from his work on Vancouver's Downtown Eastside, reminding us that the opposite of addiction is not sobriety, it is connection. Left to right: Pastor Tim MacIntosh from ACLN, a gifted speaker; me; Dave Wiebe, Joyce McElhoes, Melissa Johnson.

11/16/2022

It was great fun to facilitate a creative brainstorming session for the City of Abbotsford and the Communities in Bloom committee, with community stakeholders. The creative energy was wonderful!

10/07/2022

It was my great privilege to visit the sacred sites of our Canadian World War 2 memorials in Normandy France in 2012 and again in 2014 for the celebrations and services commemorating the 70th anniversary of D Day. This has special meaning for me given my father's service in the European campaign, and I am very glad his name is included on the memorial kiosks of all who served. I am so grateful that all our political parties worked together with government, supporting action to protect this site from condominium development. Thank you, MP Ed Fast and all others who worked together to achieve this very positive outcome. Lest we forget.

The planned condominium development adjacent to the Juno Beach Centre will not go ahead. Thank you to everyone who helped save Juno Beach!

09/09/2022

Very shortly after hearing the sad news of our Queen's passing, I attended the Swearing In ceremony of 6 new recruits to the Abbotsford Police Department, in my role as a Police Board member. They were probably among the first in Canada to take their oath to "King Charles the Third" so it was a rather historic moment. Here they are with Deputy Chief Brett Crosby-Jones (left), Mayor Henry Braun (centre) and Chief Mike Serr (right). They are a great group who will make a tremendous contribution to our community.
Congratulations, all!

06/09/2022

The Abbotsford Police Department is developing their Community Safety Plan, and they need input from the residents of Abbotsford. Please help! As a publicly appointed member of the Police Board, I know how important it is to receive feedback from the public. Please help! Just click on the link below and it will lead you to the survey. It takes about 7 minutes to complete it.

The Abbotsford Police Board and Abbotsford Police Department are preparing for our 2023 to 2025 Community Safety Plan. To develop a plan that fits the needs of the public we serve, we must understand what is relevant to you. Your input into our planning is integral to our success, and we are asking....

05/09/2022

Have you ever served on a jury? I have not yet had that experience. But here's a very interesting article on what it's like.... and how lessons learned from being a juror speak to civility and cooperation in society as a whole, and in politics, in particular.

Juries bring people together from all walks of life to carefully debate a high-stakes decision responsibly and in the spirit of goodwill

03/08/2022

Part of encouraging and helping women to find their full potential is ensuring they have access to education, leadership training, and personal mentoring. I am so glad my daughter Diana is having opportunities like those described in this video. As I reflect on my own career journey I realize how much I needed female role models, effective mentoring, and encouragement--and there wasn't a lot of it for women. I try to be that now for younger women, to offer others what I didn't receive (but wish I could have). And I celebrate the many men who have really included and supported women as equals, partners, leaders, and gifted colleagues. We are all in this together! Happy International Women's Day!

Meet Diana Squires, a Master's in Innovation, Creativity and Leadership student and Global Women's Leadership Programme Scholar.The Bayes Global Women’s Lead...

02/10/2022

Great article on the excellent work by the Abbotsford Police Outreach team to work with our street's most vulnerable. Since 2018, they have stopped arresting homeless people for possessing small amounts of drugs, but have shifted their focus to working together with other partners to build positive relationships grounded in trust and respect.
APD members Sgt Judy Bird and Constable Angela Scott are amazing examples of police officers who truly get it. They genuinely care, and do what they can to help. In the video clip, it is noted that there are not enough detox beds, and systemic barriers make it really hard to get these folks into treatment when they are ready to go. That's the piece we need to see strong action on now, if we are going to make a difference with this problem.
At a time when police services are under intense public scrutiny, here's a great example of innovation where police and community are working together. That's been a hallmark of the Abbotsford Police for many years now, and part of why I am delighted to be on their Board.

On CTVNews.ca, B.C. bureau chief Melanie Nagy reports on a unique community partnership with Abbotsford police, who are shifting the focus away from criminalizing some of the city's most vulnerable drug users.

02/02/2022

It is my delight to announce that in December 2021 I was appointed by the BC government to the Abbotsford Police Board, and there is another vacancy coming up! This is a great opportunity to serve the community of Abbotsford, and so important to ensure good governance and meaningful oversight of local policing. The Abbotsford Police are a great department - I worked closely with them for many years when Exec Director of Abbotsford Restorative Justice -- and I have immense respect for how they work with and engage the community, and how they strive to respond effectively to community needs. It's an honour to "govern in the public interest" on this Board, and I look forward to great things ahead!

Have you ever considered serving on a Police Board? The Abbotsford Police Board currently has a vacancy. For more info, please visit: www.bcpublicsectorboardapplications.gov.bc.ca/s/noticeofpositionDetail?nop=J-0139