RCMP and school administrators are disappointed by a poor showing at the inaugural meeting for School Watch hosted Wednesday night at John Barsby Community School.
In fact, no one showed up in spite of a campaign to notify parents and businesses near the school about the meeting.
Nanaimo RCMP and the school administrators have worked to get School Watch – an anti-crime program similar to Block Watch – off the ground. If successful, Nanaimo would be the first city in Canada with a School Watch program.
Const. Gary O'Brien, Nanaimo RCMP spokesman, said - despite the apparent initial lack of interest - the program is a potentially useful and effective crime prevention tool.
He plans to refocus and continue to try and drum up public interest and participation in the program.
The next School Watch meeting happens at Pleasant Valley Elementary School Thursday (Nov. 17) at 7 p.m. A third meeting is scheduled at McGirr Elementary School Nov. 24.
For more information about School Watch, please call the RCMP Community Policing Section at 250-755-3257.