Community Safety Street Art: Painting with Purpose

The Owen Sound Police Service has partnered with the Mac's Street Art Initiative to bring a custom crime prevention legal art mural to the south wall of the Mac's convenience store on 10th Street East.

The Owen Sound Police Service continues to engage youth in meaningful ways and were determined in their pursuit of this mural project to the extent that it was formally proposed by a police officer and officially approved by the Owen Sound city council. The excitement surrounding this unique location and the vision for the graffiti mural is shared between Mac's Crime Busters and the members of Owen Sound Police Service.

The idea to work toward this mural was a direct result of the unprecedented support that was shown this past summer for the BMX Skate Jam at the Kiwanis Bike and Skate Park. Officers believed that they were making a difference in the lives of kids and connections with our teenagers after they saw so many participants arrive at the event despite the heavy rainfall and winds.

After receiving the proposal, Mac's Crime Busters agreed to select Owen Sound as their next mural and unite with the police to further engage the community and to develop new relationships with our youth. Sean "Sporty" Sportun, the Community Safety Program manager for the Mac's Street Art program, says that the Street Art Initiative "works to create strategic partnerships in an effort to help prevent crime and strengthen community relationships". The Owen Sound mural will feature the artistry of "Wong", a premiere graffiti street artist whose portfolio includes epic graffiti pieces that have been done in partnership with the police, corporations and young people.

One of the officers's who teaches the KIDS Program to Grade 6 students in Owen Sound will be bringing her class to the event so that they can participate in lawful graffiti. The importance of this interaction has tremendous value because graffiti crime and criminal mischief learning is part of the KIDS Program and is found in her lesson plan.

"If you always do what you've always done, you get the same results", says Mr. Sportun.

Members of the Owen Sound Police Service invite you to support this initiative in person or on social media. Come and join us at the downtown Mac's convenience store at 10:00 am on Wednesday October 12, 2016 when Chief William Sornberger will help the Mac's Crime Busters kick off this community event that runs until Friday.

Selfies and applause are encouraged as kids, cops and the community come together to create a unique and classic community partnership piece further proving that Owen Sound is where you want to live.

We thank the City of Owen Sound council and Mac's Crime Busters for making this event possible.