Police chiefs take to social media to deter gang activity
The campaign, funded by Manitoba Justice and led by the Manitoba Association of Chiefs of Police, includes short videos with graffiti-inspired ghost graphics. It encourages youth looking to leave gangs to text an anonymous, 24/7 help line, run by The Link, a non-profit family support organization.
The clips will be published on Gen Z-friendly channels such as TikTok and Snapchat, and campaign material will hit bus shelters, convenience stores and community groups who work with at-risk youth in the coming weeks.
MIKAELA MACKENZIE / FREE PRESS
'Young people can text in, it's all confidential, they don't have to give their names, we provide them with resources,' Kerri Irvin-Ross, chief executive officer at The Link.
If a young person texts the help line at 204-900-6010, The Link can give them a safe place to stay, offer counselling, connect them to housing supports or other non-profits that can help them, or just provide a non-judgmental ear, said Kerri Irvin-Ross, chief executive officer at The Link.
'Young people can text in, it's all confidential, they don't have to give their names, we provide them with resources,' she said.
'We invite them to come here if they'd like, and provide them with opportunities to find their way out.'
This marks the third year of campaigns that advertise The Link's text line. The previous two years used graphics inspired by video games, designed by ChangeMakers, to appeal to young people .
Reaching young people on their phones has had an impact, said Jim Mirza, the executive director of the Manitoba Association of Chiefs of Police.
'Many of them have had interactions that led to referrals, and, more importantly, a real exit from the gang life,' he said. 'This is the kind of impact we want to build on.'
MIKAELA MACKENZIE / FREE PRESS
Michelle De Groot, gang prevention co-ordinator at the Winnipeg Police Service, said many of the young people she works with are seeking a strong family support system.
This time, ChangeMakers reps sat down with young former gang members to hammer out which designs, outreach styles and even colour schemes would reach their target the best.
'They're like our focus group,' said Varinder Brar of ChangeMakers, adding more than 500 youth have texted the line since 2023.
Tuesdays
A weekly look at politics close to home and around the world.
'We're never asking people to snitch, or give people's names or anything like that, (it's) purely confidential,' he said.
'They're not going to the cops, because there (would be) obviously a little bit of resistance to that if you were a gang member.'
Michelle De Groot, the gang prevention co-ordinator with the Winnipeg Police Service, said many of the young people she works with have prior trauma and are seeking family-type links through the gang system.
MIKAELA MACKENZIE / FREE PRESS
Jim Mirza is the executive director of the Manitoba Association of Chiefs of Police.
'It's a false sense of loyalty, and often they find out too late that that isn't the family they're looking for,' she said.
malak.abas@freepress.mb.ca
Malak AbasReporter
Malak Abas is a city reporter at the Free Press. Born and raised in Winnipeg's North End, she led the campus paper at the University of Manitoba before joining the Free Press in 2020. Read more about Malak.
Every piece of reporting Malak produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press's tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press's history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates.
Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber.
Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Winnipeg Free Press
5 days ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Police chiefs take to social media to deter gang activity
Manitoba police chiefs have taken to social media to tell young people to ghost gang life. The campaign, funded by Manitoba Justice and led by the Manitoba Association of Chiefs of Police, includes short videos with graffiti-inspired ghost graphics. It encourages youth looking to leave gangs to text an anonymous, 24/7 help line, run by The Link, a non-profit family support organization. The clips will be published on Gen Z-friendly channels such as TikTok and Snapchat, and campaign material will hit bus shelters, convenience stores and community groups who work with at-risk youth in the coming weeks. MIKAELA MACKENZIE / FREE PRESS 'Young people can text in, it's all confidential, they don't have to give their names, we provide them with resources,' Kerri Irvin-Ross, chief executive officer at The Link. If a young person texts the help line at 204-900-6010, The Link can give them a safe place to stay, offer counselling, connect them to housing supports or other non-profits that can help them, or just provide a non-judgmental ear, said Kerri Irvin-Ross, chief executive officer at The Link. 'Young people can text in, it's all confidential, they don't have to give their names, we provide them with resources,' she said. 'We invite them to come here if they'd like, and provide them with opportunities to find their way out.' This marks the third year of campaigns that advertise The Link's text line. The previous two years used graphics inspired by video games, designed by ChangeMakers, to appeal to young people . Reaching young people on their phones has had an impact, said Jim Mirza, the executive director of the Manitoba Association of Chiefs of Police. 'Many of them have had interactions that led to referrals, and, more importantly, a real exit from the gang life,' he said. 'This is the kind of impact we want to build on.' MIKAELA MACKENZIE / FREE PRESS Michelle De Groot, gang prevention co-ordinator at the Winnipeg Police Service, said many of the young people she works with are seeking a strong family support system. This time, ChangeMakers reps sat down with young former gang members to hammer out which designs, outreach styles and even colour schemes would reach their target the best. 'They're like our focus group,' said Varinder Brar of ChangeMakers, adding more than 500 youth have texted the line since 2023. Tuesdays A weekly look at politics close to home and around the world. 'We're never asking people to snitch, or give people's names or anything like that, (it's) purely confidential,' he said. 'They're not going to the cops, because there (would be) obviously a little bit of resistance to that if you were a gang member.' Michelle De Groot, the gang prevention co-ordinator with the Winnipeg Police Service, said many of the young people she works with have prior trauma and are seeking family-type links through the gang system. MIKAELA MACKENZIE / FREE PRESS Jim Mirza is the executive director of the Manitoba Association of Chiefs of Police. 'It's a false sense of loyalty, and often they find out too late that that isn't the family they're looking for,' she said. Malak AbasReporter Malak Abas is a city reporter at the Free Press. Born and raised in Winnipeg's North End, she led the campus paper at the University of Manitoba before joining the Free Press in 2020. Read more about Malak. Every piece of reporting Malak produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press's tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press's history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates. Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber. Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
CTV News
22-07-2025
- CTV News
‘100% not the vibe': New Gen Z-targeted warning signs at Lynn Canyon aim to stop cliff jumping
New warning signs are up at Lynn Canyon designed to resonate with younger visitors. (Courtesy: District of North Vancouver) The District of North Vancouver has adopted the language of the younger generations in its latest effort to discourage cliff jumping at a popular swimming spot. New text message-shaped signs went up last week at Lynn Canyon with Gen Z-coded slogans warning of the perils of taking the plunge. 'Injured in Lynn Canyon? 100% not the vibe,' one reads. Another says, 'Real ones keep their friends alive.' 'Spoiler Alert: Your viral jump ends in the hospital,' and 'Your friends might cheer. First responders won't,' the other two warn. All of the signs end with the reminder: 'Cliff jumping can be deadly.' According to the district, more than 40 people have died and many more were injured at Lynn Canyon over the past 50 years. It says just this month, firefighters have been kept busy rescuing cliff jumpers in the park. Last July, a man in his 20s died after jumping from Twin Falls in Lynn Canyon. Police said he was under water for half an hour before first responders could reach him. Days later, another young man who dove off a cliff while intoxicated had to be rescued from the water. 'The water is icy, and hypothermia can set in very quickly. The cliffs are steep and slippery, with some areas being unstable,' the district warned in a statement. 'Water levels and conditions can change rapidly, creating a hazardous situation for visitors, first responders, and park rangers.' It urged people to talk to their kids, friends and family members about the risks associated with the activity. 'The message is clear: Cliff jumping might look cool, but it's seriously dangerous—and sometimes deadly.'
Winnipeg Free Press
21-07-2025
- Winnipeg Free Press
Two restaurant fires could be linked to protection racket hit list targeting immigrants, family member fears
What first looked like random vandalism now appears to be part of a troubling pattern, the family behind two Winnipeg Thai restaurants says. Earlier this month, a break-in at Thida's Thai Restaurant on Donald Street seemed like just another case of neighbourhood mischief. Last Friday, the family's second business, Mae Sunee Thai Cuisine on Erin Street, was gutted by a suspected arson attack. MIKAELA MACKENZIE / FREE PRESS FILES Mae Sunee owner Praphatsorn (Pae) Inthon at the Thai restaurant in 2023. MIKAELA MACKENZIE / FREE PRESS FILES Mae Sunee owner Praphatsorn (Pae) Inthon at the Thai restaurant in 2023. 'The reason we say that… when we watched (the security video on Donald), it was odd, like why would you just do that, break-in, don't go anywhere and just try and light the first booth on fire?' said Jay Delaney, who is married to Praphatsorn (Pae) Inthon, owner of Mae Sunee, and is the son-in-law of Thida's owner, Sunee Inthon. 'Then after that, someone came to us and said this is happening a lot. Most retail stores, convenience stores and the odd restaurant.' Speaking on behalf of the family Monday, Delaney said both attacks closely resemble a string of recent incidents targeting immigrant-owned businesses in Winnipeg's inner city, West End and North End. He believes they're connected — carried out by the same people or group, often around the same time. Security footage from both restaurants shows the attackers breaking into both properties between 4 and 5 a.m., then trying to set off Molotov cocktails to start fires. In one video posted to Facebook, two men are seen at the Donald Street restaurant on July 4. One, wearing a mask, smashes the glass with a hammer, then attempts to light an object on fire. When that fails, another object is ignited and thrown into a booth. A quick response from attending police prevented the fire from spreading. MIKAELA MACKENZIE / FREE PRESS Mae Sunee, a Thai restaurant which is now closed due to a fire, on Monday. MIKAELA MACKENZIE / FREE PRESS Mae Sunee, a Thai restaurant which is now closed due to a fire, on Monday. The story at Mae Sunee Thai Cuisine, where the back patio was set on fire Friday, is one of devastation, however. 'The one on Erin will be a complete loss,' Delaney said, adding that the place was badly water-damaged as a result of firefighting efforts. Delaney says some of the stories he's heard from local owners are like scenes from films about organized crime, where someone visits a business and demands protection money… or else. 'We started receiving video and audio of these people coming into stores… they say 'you have 24 hours,'' he said, adding that many of the businesses have created a group chat. That scenario played out at Ur's Convenience Store on Selkirk Avenue over the weekend. The owner, who identified himself as 'Ajay,' said two people walked into the store on Friday, demanding payment for 'protection.' He declined to pay them. 'They tried to scare us, tell us to do this stuff and that stuff,' he said. 'We denied them and called 911.' Several hours later — at about 5 a.m. Saturday — there were flames. There was some damage to the store, but a neighbour was able to put out the fire before it spread out of control, he said. 'It's pretty scary,' he said. SUPPLIED Security video showing a suspect in the break-in and arson at Thida's Thai Restaurant in downtown Winnipeg in July. SUPPLIED Security video showing a suspect in the break-in and arson at Thida's Thai Restaurant in downtown Winnipeg in July. Businesses on a 'hit list' obtained by Delaney and viewed by the Free Press Monday, included Ur's, Magnus Foods Grocery & Convenience Store on Main Street and Selkirk Quickie Mart on Selkirk Avenue. Calls to the latter two convenience stores were not returned Monday. An unnamed warehouse was 'already hit,' according to the list, which also includes a message that all of the targeted businesses needed to be 'hit' by the end of the month. Delaney said he has passed the names of alleged suspects from Montreal and the list of targeted businesses, to police. The two Thai restaurants were not on the list. 'On Saturday morning, the first business on the list was targeted,' he said, referring to Ur's. 'The (police) seem to know these individuals, but we don't know if it's a matter of identifying them still. The police seem to be serious about it. They say it has to stop.' Tuesdays A weekly look at politics close to home and around the world. The Winnipeg Police Service confirmed Monday it is investigating reports of break-ins and arson, but declined to comment on how many incidents are under investigation or whether they appear linked. 'Investigations are ongoing,' a spokesperson said. Police advised that any threats — directed at individuals or businesses — should be immediately reported. Delaney said the lack of immediate action has been frustrating for the family. Sunee and Pae have both left Winnipeg for Vancouver to get away from the chaos. He believes police have enough information — including the pattern of targeted times — to act. 'You can kind of pin it down… have some patrols out,' he said. Scott BilleckReporter Scott Billeck is a general assignment reporter for the Free Press. A Creative Communications graduate from Red River College, Scott has more than a decade's worth of experience covering hockey, football and global pandemics. He joined the Free Press in 2024. Read more about Scott. Every piece of reporting Scott produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press's tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press's history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates. Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber. Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
