2007 PROGRAM

BACKGROUND

The Street Ambassador program was launched in 1997 to assist the Police and community in dealing with aggressive panhandlers and public drunkenness on Ottawa’s downtown streets. The program began and has operated for the last ten years in various forms of community partnership. Responsibilities for recruiting, hiring, training, supervising and administering the program have been shared between the ByWard Market Business Improvement Area, The Ottawa Centre for Crime Prevention, Ottawa Police Service, The City of Ottawa Markets Management & Chronic Disease/Injury Prevention Section, social service agencies and residents.

Each year, bilingual university students studying criminology or social work are hired for the Program. From May until September they walk the Market in pairs of two daily - from 10:00am until 6:00pm. From Labour Day until Thanksgiving they work on weekends.

The Street Ambassadors provide a valuable function that is supported by all ByWard Market stakeholders. The Ambassadors are a highly visible presence that:

· increase the perception of the Market as a safe environment

· monitor the activities of street persons & maintain positive relationships

· provide tourists & the public with an on-street resource for questions about the City

· provide front-line response & first aid in case of accident or injury

· utilize conflict intervention techniques to respond to situations reducing calls for service to the Police

PARTNERS

The Street Ambassadors are supported by a community partnership representing business, residents, government and social agencies. Partners include:

· ByWard Market BIA

· Ottawa Police Services

· The City of Ottawa Markets Management

· The Lowertown West Community Association

· Salvation Army Ottawa Booth Centre

· Shepherds of Good Hope

· The Union Mission for Men

· Operation Go Home

· Youth Services Bureau

· Courtyard Marriott in Ottawa (sponsor)

· Fido Mobileit (sponsor)

Business

Improvement

Area

Zone

d'améliorations commerciales

55 ByWard Market Square

Second Floor

Ottawa, ON

K1N 9C3

Phone: 613.562.3325

Fax: 613.562.3326

E-mail:

bia@byward-market.com

2006 PROGRAM

· 5,961 contacts generating 8,509 inquiries compared to 7,540 contacts and 10,264 inquiries in 2005

· 3,269 tourism inquiries; down from 3,791 in 2005, representing a 14% decrease

· 5,066 or 85% of all contacts were positive or proactive

· 895 total interventions or 15% of all contacts were negative contacts up from 281 in 2005, representing a 218% increase resulting in 32 calls made to the Police down from 35 in 2005, representing a 9% decrease

· 77% or 4633 contacts were in English and 23% or 1328 were in French

2007 PROGRAM

The 2007 Program will build on the success of 2006. The ByWard Market BIA and City of Ottawa Markets Management will share the management and administration of the program with the continued support of other partners.

LEVEL OF SERVICE

· 7 days/ week from May 4 to Labour Day

· Weekends from Labour Day to Thanksgiving

· 10:00am to 6:00 pm (Sun – Thurs) 10:00am to 8:00pm (Fri & Sat)

· 3 full-time Ambassadors working in tandem with 7 Markets Management staff to provide continuous coverage

LOGISTICS

· Program overseen by Steering Committee comprised of the BIA’s Executive Director, the Markets Manager, the Police Inspector for Central-East District 24 & social agencies

· Daily support/reporting through Markets Management

· Points of contact provided by each partner for training & support as required

· Link with Police through the Communication Center

· Financial management provided by BIA – payroll, expenses

· 7 full days of training (prior to May 4) including:

C First Aid Training with CPR

C AED (Defib) Training

C Personal Safety Techniques and Violence Response procedures

· Specialized training provided by partners:

C Shepherds of Good Hope – overview of shelter services

C Salvation Army – overview of shelter services in ByWard Market area

C Union Mission for Men – orientation

C Operation Go Home

C Youth Services Bureau

C Ottawa Police Service – orientation & calls for service

C City Markets Management – area management & tourist information

C ByWard Market BIA – members & member services

Business Improvement Area

Zone

d'améliorations commerciales

55 ByWard Market Sq.

Ottawa, ON

K1N 9C3

Phone: 562-3325

Fax: 562-3326

E-mail:

bia@byward-market.com

www.byward-market.com

2007 BUDGET - $ 35,000 breakeven

The Street Ambassador Program has operated on a breakeven basis. Staffing has been based on the number of partners and their financial contributions. The 2007 budget is at the same level as the last three years with revenues and expenses of approximately $35,000. To date, $25,000 has been committed. The ByWard Market BIA and City of Ottawa Markets Management have each approved $10,000 the remaining $5000 is in sponsorship (both cash and in-kind) from the Courtyard Marriott in Ottawa and Fido Mobileit. It is hoped that the remaining $10,000 will come from the Police Services Board.

As has been the case, salaries and benefits represent 90% of the program costs. The remaining 10% covers training, uniforms, and printing costs. Markets Management and the ByWard Market BIA provide supervision and program management as well as access to computers and administrative support at no cost to the program.