Support sought to retain employee

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This article was published 06/06/2023 (1093 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Community Mobilization Westman asked for Brandon City Council’s financial help to retain a key staff member on Monday evening.

Organization co-chair Ross Robinson said Janis Irvine, a probation officer by trade who has been seconded to CMW, is poised to be reassigned to another position by the province.

Though CMW has been trying to raise the funds needed to pay Irvine’s salary, a tight time frame has made finding money difficult. According to Robinson, it had been believed Irvine would be working with CMW until September.

Keeping Irvine on the team, Robinson said, is essential to keeping up the number of positive outcomes CMW achieves for cases it works on.

Brandon Police Chief Wayne Balcaen, a former chair of the organization, said CMW helps reduce the workload put on local police officers and find outcomes for people that don’t involve incarceration.

He said a study done in a previous year showed that the return on investment for the social benefits of the organization’s work is more than double the amount put in.

Though CMW is asking for one-time assistance of $30,000 from the City of Brandon to hire Irvine, he said funding is also being sought from groups like the federal government as well.

City manager Ron Bowles said it would be possible to find the money should council approve the assistance with it still being relatively early in the city’s fiscal year. Councillors Kris Desjarlais (Ward 2) and Barry Cullen (Ward 3) said they would support the motion when it comes for a vote.

Robinson described community mobilization as a process where individuals, groups and organizations pool their expertise and resources to tackle social issues relating to health and safety.

In one example of the work the organization does, Robinson talked about the support given to a local mother who uses meth.

Before she interacted with Community Mobilization Westman, Brandon Police Service had 55 calls for service involving her from Jan. 1, 2018 to May 31, 2022. Since then, she has been involved with just three calls for service.

At one point, the woman was getting ready to give birth and there was a high chance that the baby would immediately be apprehended. Robinson said CMW was able to avert that outcome and keep the newborn with their mother.

Now, the woman is working on a reunification plan with her other children with regular visits taking place.

In another case, Westman RCMP found two Indigenous sisters they were worried were in the process of being trafficked.

CMW helped find them shelter while they were waiting to be taken home to Saskatchewan, and even assisted them in getting home after their original travel plans fell through.

Currently, Robinson said there are three agencies looking to join the table at CMW.

During last year’s municipal election campaign, multiple candidates said Brandon needed local community organizations to work together to tackle social issues and create a space to bring forward concerns.

Since then, Robinson said CMW has changed its outlook to incorporate those concerns.

It was maybe the hottest city council meeting of the year, temperature wise.

The air conditioners at Brandon City Hall ceased working, causing the building to be closed for part of the day while repairs were in the works.

By the time Monday’s council meeting started, city hall remained hot and humid. A couple of fans were set up on either side of the council table to create some air flow.

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