Online Campaign Reaches Youth Looking to Leave Gang Life

Winnipeg, Manitoba February 13, 2024 – A cutting-edge gang prevention campaign aimed at youth throughout the province that kicked off last summer has resulted in dozens of anonymous texts from youth looking for help. The initiative led and funded by the Manitoba Association of Chiefs of Police (MACP) Organized Crime Committee and Manitoba Justice partnered with The Link: Youth and Family Supports, who responded to text messages from youth throughout the two-phase campaign. Three short, gritty videos broke down the myths of gang life including drugs, sexual exploitation and gun violence. The videos used a video game look-and-feel to reach viewers aged 13-16, providing a phone number at the end encouraging viewers to send a text message to The Link who provided around-the-clock responses to youth looking for help.

“We had a tremendous response to the Gang Life is No Life videos, especially at the launch last summer,” says The Link’s CEO, Kerri Irvin-Ross. “We are impressed that the concept resonated with youth and that they felt safe to reach out and text The Link for help,” she adds.

The Link saw texts from youth come to the help-line peak in August with 61 conversations from 49 unique phone calls. Overall, the two phases of the digital campaign saw 150 conversations from 109 unique phone calls. Plus, the digital ads – viewed on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, SnapChat and YouTube – had 11.68 million impressions leading to over 45,000 clicks to the Gang Life is No Life landing page, hosted by The Link.

“The campaign provided an avenue for youth to connect directly to The Link, discreetly, at any time of the day. This has resulted in over 150 referrals in a short period of time,” says Inspector Elton Hall, Commander of the WPS Organized Crime Unit and Chair of the Organized Crime Committee. “This is the new way to connect with youth, the results are amazing, he adds. “We’re eager to share this platform and success with other law inforcement agencies across the country and into the U.S.” The success of 2023’s campaign has led to renewed funding for the project in 2024 and 2025 to develop further videos depicting gang life myths to continue to grab young people’s attention and offer a life line to help resist or get out of gang involvement.

Watch the media release here.

To view the videos go to https://thelinkmb.ca/ganglifeisnolife/

The Link Offers Lifeline for Youth Looking to Leave Gang Life

Winnipeg, Manitoba July 26, 2023 –The Link is launching a cutting-edge gang prevention campaign aimed at youth throughout the province, an initiative led and funded by the Manitoba Association of Chiefs of Police (MACP) Organized Crime Committee and Manitoba Justice.

Three short, gritty videos are meant to start a conversation about the myths of gang life when compared to reality. The concept uses a video game look-and-feel to reach viewers aged 13-16 in a way they will relate to and share. A phone number at the end of each video encourages viewers to send a text message to The Link; a potential lifeline for those who want help leaving gang life. The Link will provide around-the-clock responses to texts from youth sent to 204.900.6010.

Read the media release here.

To view the videos go to https://thelinkmb.ca/ganglifeisnolife/

Man accused of killing 24-year-old Rebecca Contois, a member of O-Chi-Chak-Ko-Sipi First Nation, and disposing of her body in a dumpster is accused of killing three more women.

December 1, 2022 Jeremy Skibicki, 35, was charged Thursday with three more counts of first-degree murder after more victims were identified, police said at a Thursday afternoon news conference. Investigators now believe Skibicki was also responsible for the deaths of two other First Nations women and another woman who hasn’t yet been identified, between March and May 2022, said police Chief Danny Smyth.

Read the media release here.

Anyone with information about this investigation, specifically about this jacket, is asked to contact the Homicide Unit at 204-986-6508 or Crime Stoppers at 204-786-TIPS (8477).

PREMIER HEATHER STEFANSON UNVEILS PATH TO FIGHT VIOLENT CRIME, STRENGTHEN HEALTH CARE, GROW ECONOMY AND HELP MANITOBANS IN SPEECH FROM THE THRONE

November 15, 2022 The 2022 speech from the throne, delivered by Lt.-Gov. Anita Neville at the opening of the fifth session of the 42nd legislature, is setting a course toward greater health, and prosperity for Manitobans with a series of commitments to make communities stronger, safer and more affordable, Premier Heather Stefanson said today.

Read the media release here.

STATEMENT FROM JUSTICE MINISTER KELVIN GOERTZEN ON TRAINING PROVIDED BY AMERICAN BUREAU OF ALCOHOL, TOBACCO AND FIREARMS

November 10, 2022 On behalf of the Manitoba government, I wish to thank experts from the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF) for providing valuable training to members of Manitoba’s law enforcement community. The Manitoba Association of Chiefs of Police, through its organized crime committee, have planned training next week in response to the emerging use of illegally manufactured firearms and 3D-printed firearms in Manitoba. The training event is sponsored by Manitoba Criminal Intelligence Centre, which has arranged for Tyler Herman, a 3D-printed firearms specialist, and Chris Taylor, ATF attaché, U.S. Embassy Canada, to share their expertise with front-line law enforcement and with senior leaders in government next week.

Read the media release here.

MANITOBA GOVERNMENT, POLICE SET UP NEW UNIT TO TRACK DOWN VIOLENT CRIMINALS

Manitoba’s Progressive Conservative government announced plans to crack down on violent criminals Thursday, the latest in a series of recent announcements on public safety.

The province and police forces are to set up a new specialized unit to track down violent criminals, including those wanted on arrest warrants, Premier Heather Stefanson said.

Read the media release here.