Council supports positive-ticketing program for youth

By Rob Vogt, Local Press Writer

Claresholm town council will support a positive-ticketing program proposed by the youth justice committee of southwestern Alberta and the Claresholm and District Chamber of commerce.

At its May 13 meeting, council agreed to support the initiative after a brief report from Coun. Brad Schlossberger.

He explained the youth justice committee and chamber of commerce asked the town at council’s last meeting on April 23 if the community peace officer could issue tickets to youth for positive behaviour.

These tickets could then be exchanged at the town office for gift cards purchased from local businesses.

Schlossberger said it is a way to make the interaction between enforcement officials and youth more positive.

The police will also be approached to issue positive tickets.

“The RCMP has done that before,” Schlossberger said.

Coun. Craig Zimmer said he was in support of the program if it was not an extra burden on town staff.

Council then agreed to support the Youth Justice Committee of Alberta Southwest’s project of positive ticketing in Claresholm by using the community peace officer to hand out positive tickets and using the town office as a redemption point for tickets to gift certificates.