Volunteers’ commitment is Bear Clan’s strength

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This article was published 08/08/2022 (1378 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Public figures seem to like getting their pictures taken with the Bear Clan Patrol, presumably hoping the photo-op will bolster their image as elected officials concerned about crime and street-level Indigenous concerns.

Justice Minister Kelvin Goertzen was the latest luminary to join a patrol for a walkabout in the North End as he announced last Tuesday the Bear Clan will, for the first time, receive annual government funding.

The province committed to providing $100,000 a year to help pay the bills for the organization’s three headquarters at 584 Selkirk Ave. in the North End, 185 Young St. in West Broadway, and 485 Sherbrooke Ave. in the West End.

Mr. Goertzen also announced a one-time allocation of another $100,000 to buy new safety equipment for volunteers, including puncture-resistant gloves, naloxone, flashlights, multi-tool pocket knives and first aid kits.

The government contribution is modest, considering the large scale of Bear Clan activities. And it should remain so. As commendable as the Bear Clan has proven to be, its strength is that its 250 active members are volunteers, not paid professionals.

Several of the 14 current candidates in Winnipeg’s mayoralty race have outlined crime as a priority in their campaign, and some might be tempted to display their dedication to public safety by promising considerable public funds to the Bear Clan, linking their political aspirations to the Clan’s success story in community-based crime prevention. Such a temptation should be resisted.

Other than the annual $100,000 announced this week for administrative expenses, politicians should keep hands off the Bear Clan, heeding the timeless axiom “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”

An enduring virtue of Bear Clan members is that they’re not doing it for a paycheque. The concept of people volunteering because they care about people who live nearby gives them credibility on the street with people who often distrust, and even fear, authority figures such as police officers who are there because it’s their job.

The Bear Clan’s boots-on-the-ground display of community concern — on their own time, without receiving a dime — embodies the high values the group promotes in its mission statement.

Drawing on traditional Indigenous philosophies and practices, the group aims to provide a sense of safety and belonging in the neighbourhoods it serves. Its members try to work in harmony with the broader community, rather than in conflict.

They pledge to do this in a manner that is non-violent, non-threatening, non-judgmental and supportive. For practical purposes, such as encounters with those who occupy city bus shelters and temporary encampments, the Bear Clan tries to connect with others by name and by their life stories, to treat them as people and not just the personification of societal problems.

The Bear Clan directs particular attention to young people, including those living in circumstances ripe with temptations of criminal activity. They try to connect with youngsters, the people who will inherit today’s conditions, and develop their knowledge and skills.

They do all this without getting paid. Their volunteer status — not doing it for money, doing it because they care — is a big reason Bear Clan members, clad in their fluorescent vests, are greeted with respect as they walk the streets.

While not everyone would be comfortable joining night patrols in some of the city’s most dangerous areas, residents of all areas of the city could benefit from the group’s philosophy. Winnipeg would be a better city if we all regarded our neighbours as the Bear Clan does — don’t judge; avoid conflict; show compassionate support.