Three Red Deerians were among individuals and organizations to receive Alberta Community Justice Awards for working to improve safety in their communities.
Red Deer recipients included Dean and Verna Hart, and Kathy Parsons, who were recognized at the 32nd Annual Community Justice Awards ceremony held at Parallel Church in Taber on March 31.
A total of 11 organizations and individuals took home awards in four categories: emerging excellence, partnerships and collaboration, innovation, and service enhancement.
Justice Minister Tyler Shandro said community safety is a collective undertaking.
“Victims of sexual assault, individuals with mental health issues, victims of rural crime and residents of Indigenous communities are just some of the groups that have benefited from the work of the recipients of this year’s Community Justice Awards,” Shandro said in a statement.
Dean and Verna Hart were among five Albertans and one organization to receive an award for partnerships and collaboration.
As leaders in rural crime watch programs, Dean and Verna both sit on the board of the Alberta Provincial Rural Crime Watch Association and work with Red Deer/Lacombe Rural Crime Watch.
Kathy Parsons was one of two Albertans to receive an award for service enhancement.
Parsons, the executive director of the Central Alberta Legal Clinic Foundation, has helped create programs that support tenants facing barriers to safe and affordable housing, new immigrants, and disenfranchised individuals who need photo identification to access social programs.
