About 200 guests and delegates attended the 2013 Provincial Rural Crime Watch Association (APRCWA) symposium at Olds College Feb. 8 ñ 10.
The symposium included presentations on human trafficking, senior fraud prevention, identity theft, bullying prevention and other things.
Delegates also heard how social media such as Facebook and Twitter are being used more and more to fight rural crime.
Dave Sharek, president of the Olds Rural Crime Watch Association (ORCWA), the host association, said the conference saw great information sharing and dialogue.
With rural communities just as susceptible to crime as urban centres these days, it is vital that residents and companies are made aware of the crime dangers and how to meet them ñ and that is something rural crime associations are working to help accomplish, he said.
"Some of the crimes usually seen in the urban centres are now being seen in the rural areas,î said Sharek. "The rural areas are being targeted and that confirms the need for rural crime watch associations all over Alberta. Crime is certainly not only in urban areas.î
ORCWA secretary-treasurer Judy Schlichenmayer echoed Sharek's comments, saying the information sharing by the various association representatives is invaluable in improving the fight against crime.
"The human trafficking comments really shocked a lot of people because we think we are so hidden from it or we don't hear all the facts, but it happens in rural Alberta too,î said Schlichenmayer. "There are all types of crimes in rural communities. We think we are sheltered, but we aren't. It does still happen in rural Alberta.
"We are better informed because of the symposium, so we can now better protect our communities. It all filters down.î
ORCWA covers all of Mountain View County.
The APRCWA is made up of the 60 crime watch associations across rural Alberta. Its objectives include improving community awareness of rural crime prevention initiatives, promoting crime prevention through information sharing, and studying rural crime trends and seeking solutions.
Rural crime watch associations work closely with various stakeholders, including RCMP, Alberta Solicitor General, Alberta Agriculture, the Farmers' Advocate of Alberta, Alberta Beef Producers, the United Farmers of Alberta, the Alberta Conservation Association and the Alberta Citizens on Patrol Association.
Many of those partner stakeholders had representatives at the Olds symposium.
The provincial rural crime watch annual general meeting also took place during the weekend.
ORCWA president Sharek said he was pleased with the ability of Olds to host the event.
"We had a great attendance,î said president Sharek. "We had some great comments about us hosting the event this year. It speaks well for Olds being able to accommodate that number of people. I was impressed with how it all went.î
Olds last hosted the provincial symposium in 2004.
Schlichenmayer says the ORCWA is always looking for new volunteers, including to provide security at the International Plowing Match conference at Olds College in July.
"The easiest way (to volunteer) is to go to the website (www.oldsruralcrimewatch.ca) or give me a call at 403-556-8846,î she said.
