By Dave Branco

Town Hall Meeting

RCMP and school authorities address online safety concerns after local tragedy

Jan 15, 2024 | 8:14 PM

PRINCE GEORGE – A town hall meeting Monday evening at Vanier Hall drew around two hundred parents and caregivers looking for more information on safeguarding children from online predators.

The evening’s community meeting attendees listened to experts who shared valuable insights on the most effective ways to educate themselves and their youth about online protection.

School District No. 57, the B.C. RCMP Integrated Child Exploitation Team and Safer Schools Together fielded various questions from the audience.

“We hear a lot about should my child should have a phone. Should I get them a phone? When should I get them a phone? In reality, that will depend on your understanding and knowing the maturity level of your children.”

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The organizers are hosting the event in response to a tragic incident in October, where a local twelve-year-old took their own life, reportedly due to sextortion.

If your child’s behaviour suddenly changes or is more withdrawn, this may be a good opportunity to ask about their online use.

“Sextortion is a really difficult thing to speak about. It’s challenging for youth to approach an adult and be able to share what happened.”

CST.Solana Pare

BC RCMP Integrated Child Exploitation Unit

Experts say to take advantage of noticeable behavioural changes and use them to create a dialogue with your child.

You can find additional information on websites such as NeedHelpNow.ca and Cybertip.ca.

Email: Dave.Branco@pattisonmedia.com

TikTok: @DaveBrancoVJ