Rich Liukko stands behind the cash register at Freecloud Records on 101 Street and 107 Avenue.
He talks about the store’s safety issues, including vandalism, attempted break-ins and people uttering threats or using drugs behind the building.
Liukko says he’s often not sure how to report specific situations. He holds a flyer with contact information for different agencies and their staff members—but some of the individual emails and phone numbers are out of date.
“We need updates so we know who to call,” says Liukko. “If we have needles, who do we call? Who is my beat officer? I know I can’t call 911 for everything.”
Listening to community
Liukko is sharing his concerns with Sarah Terlesky and Nor’Ali McDaniel. It’s their job to listen to the community’s safety issues in and around Chinatown and try to find solutions.
Terlesky studies the flyer and promises to get back to Liukko with the correct information. “I will connect you with the Edmonton Police Service officers assigned to this area,” she says. (The beat officers meet with Liukko a few days later.)
Terlesky and McDaniel are Community Safety Liaisons. They work out of the Healthy Streets Operations Centre (HSOC) with community safety teams made up of City Peace Officers, Edmonton Police Service officers, Edmonton Fire Rescue Services Community Safety Officers, and Advanced Care Paramedics from Alberta Health Services.
Together, the teams work to identify solutions to social disorder and safety concerns facing Chinatown, and parts of Downtown and Kingsway. Because of the broad array of partners, the teams are able to work collaboratively and provide a multidisciplinary approach to safety in these areas. The teams are able to leverage each agency’s expertise in finding solutions to the concerns faced by each of the three communities.
HSOC has three main goals.
“We want to help people feel safe living, working and being in these areas,” says McDaniel. “We also want to increase health and wellness for everyone living in these communities, as well as reduce crime and victimization.”
Working together
HSOC, funded by City Council, is a two-year pilot project led by the City and Edmonton Police Service. The pilot marked its first anniversary in January 2024.
“Healthy Streets brings together many agencies and organizations to work collectively, and with communities, to help solve the complex problems we face,” says Jenna Pilot, Supervisor of Community Safety.
Much of the work of HSOC’s Community Safety Liaisons involves building relationships with the people who live and work in Chinatown, and parts of Downtown and Kingsway, to support and build on work that helps make their communities safer. McDaniel and Terlesky meet with residents, whether they be housed or unhoused; business owners and organizations to hear their concerns. They respond to unique safety requests such as sharing personal safety advice on how to prevent vehicle break-ins, as they recently did with the nursing staff at Lee Caring’s Edmonton Chinatown Care Centre. They also provide environmental design tips on how to create safer spaces, such as adding lighting or trimming trees (for better sightlines), as well as information about different safety resources.
Building community
Through their work, Community Safety Liaisons help to build a greater sense of community in HSOC areas. In 2023, they organized a meeting between workers at the Canada Post depot and the Bissell Centre, a non-profit organization dedicated to helping people experiencing poverty or homelessness. Their buildings are next to each other on 96 Street, but the neighbours had never been able to develop a relationship.
That one meeting changed everything.
“Nor’Ali and Sarah really helped to bridge that gap and we now have those connections,” says Jennifer McDonald-Robinson, Manager of Integrated Services at the Bissell Centre.
“We’ve been able to go for tours of the Canada Post depot and they came over and did a tour of our space. We’ve had a couple of talks about ways we can improve our internal mail system and they were able to get us some really neat cabinets that we use as mail slots for our community members.”
Slow and steady work
McDonald-Robinson says small gestures can have big impacts.
“It’s really important from a community development standpoint to be able to have those connections with neighbouring businesses and residents in the community, whether they’re housed or not housed,” says McDonald-Robinson.
“We now have those connections with Canada Post. If ever I have a concern, I now feel OK to be able to go to the folks at Canada Post to say like ‘Hey, let’s chat about this.’ Thankfully, we haven’t had to, but just knowing we can is a big deal.”
These types of connections help to build community, which helps people feel safer. This, in turn, encourages more people to use community spaces, which creates an even greater sense of safety, says Terlesky. It’s not an overnight fix. “It’s slow and steady work,” she says. “We know it will take time to bring about long-lasting results. We’re committed to adapting and refining our work as we strive towards ensuring everyone feels safe.”
Safety walks
HSOC’s Community Safety Liaisons also make connections through community safety walks.
During their latest, Terlesky and McDaniel visit Freecloud Records and Macarons & Goodies, a French bakery on 101 Street. Pastry chef and owner Akram Hasni tells them that he regularly deals with shoplifters and vehicle break-ins by people living in nearby encampments. One of his customers had his car stolen from across the street.
Yet Hasni feels things are changing for the better in the neighbourhood. “I want to thank you for your efforts,” he tells McDaniel and Terlesky.
“I believe things are on track now. I want to see a safer downtown for everyone. I’m ready to do my part wherever it’s needed. I want to be a part of the solution.”
Editor’s note: the pic at the top of the post shows Community Safety Liaisons Sarah Terlesky and Nor’Ali McDaniel outside the Healthy Streets Operations Centre in Chinatown, January 17, 2024.