Olds will be hosting the provincial rural crime watch annual general meeting from Feb. 8 to 10.
Organizers are hoping about 300 people from crime watch associations around the province, plus local people generally interested in crime watch's mandate, come out to the meeting. The last time Olds hosted the provincial AGM in 2004, 350 people came out.
This year, topics of discussion include human trafficking, building safe communities and techniques on how to stop bullying. Crimestoppers will also be giving a presentation on how technolology can help prevent crime. The theme of the convention this year is the five Ps of crime prevention: property, prevention, participation, protection and preparation.
"It's just a really good venue to get a lot of information on different crime prevention topics Ö and to be able to utilize that information across the province. It's also to promote a culture of neighbours helping neighbours,î said Judy Schlichenmayer, secretary-treasurer of the Olds Rural Crime Watch Association and coordinator of the conference.
Schlichenmayer said organizers try every year to pick topics that are relevant to what's happening in the media at the time.
"Human trafficking is a really big thing right now and Ö we think we're kind of insulated from (the issue) Ö but we need to be just as vigilant as bigger cities,î she said.
The main event is taking place all day Feb. 9 beginning at 9 a.m. at the Olds College Alumni Centre.
