City ramps up safety at Winnipeg swimming pools to help protect children from sexual abuse

WINNIPEG — The City of Winnipeg is adding safeguards to protect children from sex abuse and exploitation at public facilities like swimming pools and recreation centres.

“Environments that cater to children are vulnerable to attract individuals who seek to exploit and harm children,” said Lianna McDonald, of the Canadian Centre for Child Protection.

A city committee said no major jurisdiction in Canada that focuses on technology and how best to protect kids in a public space.

“Ensuring the safety of our children is critically important at all City of Winnipeg facilities,” Mayor Brian Bowman said at a media even Tuesday. “I am very grateful the Canadian Centre for Child Protection agreed to a first-of-its-kind partnership to assist us in enhancing child safety across all civic facilities.”

The ‘Commit to Kids’ program rolls out in four forms:

• Assessing risk in facilities.
• Staff training programs.
• Updating how best to report incidents.
• Creating a public awareness campaign.