Djeneba Dosso

Outaouais’ Islamic Centre (OIC) has joined forces with the Gatineau Police to offer a series of prevention workshops geared to Hull’s younger population. The first workshop, focused on gang prevention, was held at the Gatineau Mosque located at 4 Lois St. on October 5.

In a highly interactive presentation, Alex Thomassin, a former detective lieutenant in the SPVG’s anti-gang unit, outlined the workshop’s key objectives: raising awareness, prevention, strengthening family and community ties, and providing teens with a contact point within the police.

“History started with street gangs out of California, usually from single communities,” he said, opening his presentation by briefly detailing the origins of streets gangs. “This is no longer the case today and most gangs aren’t just one ethnic community anymore. You can have people from all over the place in the same group. Often, it’s the neighbourhood you live in that will dictate which gang you join, rather than where you’re from.”

However, the newly found inclusivity within gangs comes with a significant increase of recruitment in once safe environments, including schools, Thomassin warns.

“How can we keep our children safe when there are active gangs in our schools,” asked a dad who attended the workshop with his daughter. He says that the Polyvalente Le Carrefour students meet at the shopping centre across the street at lunch, between or after classes, with no supervision, and that this only adds to the problem. “My daughter tells me stories of kids asking her to come smoke.”

This is one of the fraternizing tactics used by young gang recruiters to attract members. Once they get the student to agree to leave school grounds, often not by more than a few feet, the recruiters will establish trust with their targets before giving them a test to gauge their loyalty.

“What we often see is young gang members going to classmates and saying ‘Hey, let me borrow your banking card, I’ll deposit and withdraw $2,500 from your account since I do not have a card of my own and you can have $500 for your trouble,’” Thomassin details. Students who are easily enticed by the idea of making easy money usually fall for the trap. The assailant will make a faulty deposit using their account, leaving the student to pay off the debt once it defaults. “They’ll tell you to wait two weeks and contact the police, but I can tell you right now, that [fraud claim] will not work—we will question how the person got access to your card and your PIN number without your consent or knowledge,” he said, also listing ‘holding bags’ usually containing drugs or firearms as another popular loyalty test.

Young men who are recruited are typically targeted to sell drugs, while young girls are often exploited for profit through prostitution. According to the former anti-gang unit detective, the leading reason why teens join gangs is to feel part of a community. But even a group of friends without a formal title can still be considered a gang if they partake in illegal and reckless activities, he warns. He lists gang signs, assigned matching colours and demarking tattoos as a few symbols that can help spot a gang, though “there is a lot of turnover in these groups.” Young people should also look for a hierarchy within the group, assigned roles and codes of conduct adopted by every member.

Circling back to the concerned father’s question on how students can be kept safe, Thomassin pointed to the resources deployed in schools across Quebec. Educational police officers and school councillors are already on duty in most Gatineau schools, he said. “They are trained and always ready and willing to help.” Youth centres can also be a safe space and outlet for students. In all cases, calling or going to the police station is always an option and workshops such as these are a step in the right direction.

“After we’ve explained all the risks and consequences, the ball is in your court,” he said. “The Gatineau police want young people to be as informed as possible so they can have all the tools necessary to make the most informed decision.”