Winnipeg Adult Education Centre

My main concern about today’s issues is youth crime and gangs in our city.
I watch the television and read newspapers every evening. It’s a really big
issue in our province and people are getting involved and not knowing what
they are getting themselves into.

The youths are just young adults that do stupid things such as break and
enter, stealing vehicles, and causing accidents on the city streets. My
friends, who are now in the Remand Centre, shared with me some experiences
they had to live with when their so-called friends made them do things in
the days. They say it was part of something that they thought was fun. I
often asked them “Why did you choose that kind of life, stealing from people
that work hard for their money?”

I see and hear about a lot of crime downtown. Where is the love and respect
that people should show others? Why can’t we just get along and show our
children and grandchildren that life is not worth wasting? I really wanted
to write something like this because being involved in gangs is just not the
answer for anyone. I have children of my own to raise in a good environment.

by Adrienne

That’s a question to which I would like an answer. As a young woman I don’t feel safe walking around down town on my own. Reading a story about a young women at the age of 16 who was sexually assaulted at gun point made me more worried about walking alone. The man took her into a small forest in a small town in Manitoba. He then hit her with his gun and brutally raped the young teen. When I hear about things like this happening I don’t feel so safe.  Even though there are cops on duty I’ve still been jumped two times walking alone. To this day I still have to walk around alone which makes me worried about who I may run into. The only things I can do to prevent this is to always let someone know where I’m going and how long I may be. This just doesn’t seem like it’s enough because even after the fact I told someone where I was going I still ran into problems. I believe that the cops need to keep their eyes more open for things like this. That’s what they’re there for; to help and protect us. No one wants their loved ones or themselves to be hurt. 

Samantha D.

 Gang  activity is at an all time high in Winnipeg and gangs are becoming more troublesome as the years go by. Fifteen years ago, when I read the newspaper, every couple of weeks I would read about gang activity. Today I read about gang activity just about every day. Gangs today are violent and organized. Crimes with fire arms are more frequent today. Every day we hear about someone getting shot or being shot at. Street drugs are how the gangs survive. They use children to deal their drugs for them because when they get caught, they get a slap on the wrist or nothing will happen to them because of the Young Offenders Act. Gang activity in Winnipeg is at its all-time worst. Something has to be done about it.

 Ian M.

  I sincerely  hope that Sam Katz opens his eyes and sees just how bad the gangs are effecting our city. Winnipeg is getting a bad rap for it’s high crime rate and  living in the Central area I have no choice but to have witnessed some unacceptable behaviors.

Gangs contribute to drugs, violence and prostitution. The city focuses on the crime when it happens instead of trying to avoid or lessen the chance of a crime involving in things such as gangs. It seems as though the gangs are controlling the city instead of the city officials controlling the gangs. Illegal activities will always occur but helping keep youths active may in the end help teens become well behaved citizens which may help slow down the gang involvement. 

Crystal