The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) has relaunched its Community Bear Program.
The OPP recently announced a new partnership with the OPP Youth Foundation (OPPYF) and the Ontario Provincial Police Association Credit Union (OPPACU) to ensure that the Community Bear Program continues serving youth, people with disabilities, and vulnerable people in tragic situations.
“We have community bears in the back of every police cruiser in the province of Ontario,” said Inspector Mary Shannon from Community Safety Services. “Officers that are responding to someone involved with a traumatic incident are there to provide some comfort to the individual.”
Shannon says the gift of a teddy bear can help put a child at ease in moments when they need comfort.
“Situations can be confusing,” she said. “The bear gives the officer an opportunity to provide the child with an item that they likely have associated with comfort from their own life experiences.”
Shannon says it’s important for youth to know that in a serious or traumatic incident, officers are there to provide support.
Having community partners like OPPACU and OPPYF partner with the Community Bear Program is crucial, she noted.
“To have a community-minded organization support an initiative like this, that supports youth in our communities, is significant for us,” she said.
