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Councillor Blog March 2024

Welcome back fellow residents of White City (and those reading from the surrounding area) for the March 2024 edition of the White City Councillor Blog. This month’s blog will focus on providing an update on our Community Safety Officer (CSO) program and answering some frequently asked questions.

We have a few exciting updates about our ongoing efforts to improve community safety through the innovative Community Safety Officer (CSO) program. Firstly, I’d like to extend a warm welcome to Keagan Jacksteit, our newly trained CSO. You might see Keagan patrolling our streets in the marked truck or cycling along our pathways on the CSO bike. If you come across him, please take a moment to say hello and make him feel at home!

Let’s delve into the key aspects of the CSO program by addressing some common questions that you may be wondering about.


  1. What is a CSO, and are they Police Officers?    

    A CSO serves as the primary Bylaw Enforcement Officer for White City, replacing the Corps of Commissionaires. While they’re not police officers, CSOs deliver low-risk community safety services, such as enforcing municipal bylaws and specific provincial acts.

  2. What is the CSO’s Mandate for White City?    

    The CSO Program aims to enforce municipal bylaws and provincial acts, contributing to the overall community safety and reducing the workload on our valued White Butte RCMP Detachment. Beyond enforcement, the program emphasizes proactive policing through public education, engaging with local stakeholders, and fostering compliance with bylaws.

  3. Was the CSO program designed to generate revenue?

    No, the driving force behind developing the CSO program was to establish reliable and responsive bylaw enforcement services, enhance community safety, and provide the Town with an additional and dedicated uniformed presence.

  4. What does a typical patrol look like for the CSO?

    A CSO’s routine patrol involves multiple vehicle passes through the community, coordinating with administration on bylaw enforcement, responding to service calls, conducting school zone patrols, engaging with residents, and keeping a vigilant eye out for any bylaw or provincial infractions.

  5. Why is the CSO sitting in a certain area?

    CSOs may monitor specific areas where issues have been identified or when residents express concerns. This proactive approach ensures a swift response to community needs, addressing potential problems and maintaining a safer environment.

  6. Why don’t the Town and the RM share CSO services?

    Before the CSO program, the Town originally explored the option of contracting CSO services from the RM of Edenwold. It was determined that it would not be the most cost-effective method of delivering the required services within the Town.

    At the time this was first explored contracted services were explored, the cost of contracting the RM of Edenwold CSOs was $140/hr. If the Town contracted 12 hours per week of service, the approximate cost today would be $97.3K. By implementing our own program, the service costs approximately $90/hr which includes officer wages, benefits, training, uniform, equipment, fuel, vehicle maintenance, insurance, dispatch services and vehicle amortization (replacement costs).

  7. When does the CSO patrol in White City?

    The CSO’s patrol times and dates vary to adapt to events and activities within the Town. This includes daytime, evening, and weekend shifts, offering a uniformed presence tailored specifically to the community’s needs.

Our CSO program is a multifaceted initiative focused on promoting community safety, education, and proactive policing. Let’s continue working together to make White City an even safer and more welcoming place for everyone.


The Town is looking for participants to join our Crime Watch Committee! This program brings neighbours together to work with local law enforcement, making our community safer. It's not just about watching out for problems - it's about actively preventing them.

Apply here


If you have any questions, have a comment, want more information, or want to suggest a topic for a future blog please email townoffice@whitecity.ca or call 306-781-2355 – we look forward to hearing from you!

                                                                                                                                                -Mayor Brian Fergusson

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