(File photo/battlefordsNOW staff)
REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS

North Battleford looks for help to tackle root causes of crime, social challenges

Jul 3, 2025 | 2:44 PM

The City of North Battleford is seeking proposals from an individual or firm to help execute the Community Safety and Wellbeing Plan.

The successful applicant will assess the current state of regional wellbeing and create a baseline for measuring progress, collect data from social agencies and government ministries, bring together stakeholders and prepare reports for city council among other requirements.

The Community Safety and Wellbeing Plan focuses on four key areas: mental health and substance abuse, housing, youth supports, and community engagement. Candace Toma, the city’s public and intergovernmental relations co-ordinator, said the previous plan focused mainly on policing and enforcement, but the city now wants to look more at prevention.

“It was going to be clear that we needed to focus more on the root causes of what can contribute negatively to the safety of a community,” she said.

“See if we can target some of those areas to advocate or assist or team up with community-based organizations to enhance those services to support our community members and see if we can look at things from a preventative nature versus a reactive nature.”

She said the goal is to find ways for groups that often work separately to share strengths and resources.

“There’s a lot of groups or organizations that have very good intentions but often work in silos,” she said. “This is an opportunity for us to collaborate, find out each other’s strengths, and then see if we can connect those necessary resources with the people that need it most.”

Updated data will help the city decide where to advocate for new services. One option already identified is a sobering centre that would divert people away from RCMP holding cells.

“It’s just another level of intervention that doesn’t penalize people for the challenges that they’re facing.”

The contract work is expected to help build the case for a full-time, permanent position.

“This is a position that could feed into another year into another year. So, essentially what we’re looking at and if you look at the city’s Community Safety and Wellbeing plan, the number one thing that was identified was having a full time person to do this work,” Toma said.

Proposals will be reviewed by city staff and scored using a standard matrix. The deadline for submissions is July 16 at 4:30 p.m.

“We encourage people who may have a heart for this kind of work and who reached any of the qualifications outlined in that proposal. We certainly would welcome those proposals,” she said.

The qualifications listed on the city’s website.

Kenneth.Cheung@pattisonmedia.com

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