Community safety co-ordinator Herb Sutton has left his role at the HUB table, largely due to other overall changes impacting the organization.
Recently the province announced it was dissolving the Center of Responsibility in Prince Albert as of June 28, and HUB table data will now be managed from Regina.
Sutton explained in his latest monitoring report that his role there had been as data recorder, to provide consistency in local data collection so that their data could be used to accurately describe their local circumstances and advocate for necessary resources.
“The decision to dissolve COR, I believe, is an indication that the data use is not a major priority for the province at this time. As a result, I am no longer attending the Hub table meetings,” Sutton’s report stated.
The HUB table does continue to meet and perform its role, which is to assess situations of elevated risk and provide immediate support to at-risk individuals and families by connecting them to the needed services.
The COR’s focus has been more long-term, with analysis of data and long-term trends. The North Battleford HUB had worked closely with the Prince Albert COR in the past few years.
While Sutton is no longer attending HUB meetings, City Manager Randy Patrick has assumed the city’s spot on the HUB Steering Committee.
News that Sutton had departed came as a disappointment to Councillor Kevin Steinborn.
At a council meeting last Monday, Steinborn said it was “a little disheartening to see the province has gotten rid of the COR in PA.” He also cited the importance of the data collection that was being done.
“I just hope that this isn’t a step backwards.”
Sutton assured Steinborn that the HUB would go forward as before with the day-to-day connecting to service.
Sutton also indicated he believed his time was better utilized working with professional researchers to collect data, pointing to Dr. Tarah Hodgkinson’s study on community perceptions of safety that was being completed.
“We’re still going to have data, we’re still going to use it,” Sutton said.
