Regina Rams season ends with Mitchell Bowl loss to Laval
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Laval Rouge et Or earned the 17-14 win at Mosaic Stadium on Saturday.
The Regina Police Service is now issuing tickets to kids … for good behaviour.
The tickets are known as “positive tickets” and, starting Wednesday, will be given out for good deeds. Those can be as simple as opening the door for someone or riding a bike with a helmet on.
RPS Chief Evan Bray said changing the image of police among youths is important.
Regina Police Service Chief Evan Bray speaks to the media on July 17, 2019. (Joseph Ho/980 CJME)
“Police and tickets go hand in hand,” Bray said during a media conference Wednesday at RPS headquarters. “I’m happy to say police and positive tickets at the Regina Police Service will now go hand in hand.”
Const. John Turner came up with the idea after contacting a number of other departments across Canada that do the same initiative. Turner said the new program allows officers to establish better relations with youth throughout the community.
“This gives members another tool,” said Turner, who contacted police departments in Vancouver, Calgary and Toronto for ticket advice.
“It will allow them to reward these kids when they see something positive and I think it’s going to be great.”
The positive tickets are sponsored by the WHL’s Regina Pats, Burger King and the City of Regina. Kids can redeem their positive tickets for free admission to a Pats game or a city facility like a swimming pool, or they can get a free kids meal at Burger King.
Stacey Cattell, the Pats’ chief operating officer, said the team has been committed to enhancing the lives of youth through the Regina Pats Community Foundation.
“When we were approached with this, it fits well with what we’re trying to do,” said Cattell. “This is a no-brainer for us so we’re excited about it.”
Kids can redeem their positive tickets to a hockey game by going to the Pats’ ticket office and exchanging it for a hockey one.
“I’m sure there’s going to be a lot of kids in our community that get rewarded that have never been to a Pats game,” added Cattell. “It’s an ability for us to grow a new fan as well.”
Helping youths in the community was a no-brainer for Burger King as well.
Scott Sentes, the district manager for Burger King, said the organization was happy to be approached by the police to be part of the campaign.
“We thought it would be a great program to bring youth in the restaurants,” said Sentes, who added the tickets are redeemable at all Burger King locations across the city. “It’s a great way to reward youth for positive behaviour.”
The program is to continue indefinitely. Although it’s currently just for youths, Turner said there would be a consideration for an adult positive ticketing program if this one works well.
Regardless, the RPS is optimistic about the impact the tickets will have around the city.
“When we see something positive, we don’t always have the ability to step out and say, ‘Hey, good for you for doing that,’ ” Bray said. “I think that’s an important message for youth in our community.”