Saskatoon police help newcomers deal with 'culture shock' of new country
The Saskatoon Police Service is hoping to ease the transition to the city for newcomers — something even more important with a recent influx.
“There are so many groups of refugees here. There are still Syrians who are relatively new to the country, the Ukrainian people who are arriving and just general newcomers who’ve come here as immigrants. It’s a culture shock for many of them and they need to learn what makes up our society,” according to Staff Sgt. Patrick Barbar.
This is a first-of-its-kind event in Saskatoon. Newcomer Maryam Sasani is thankful for the knowledge she’s getting.
“Helping people like us to get information about dangerous situations is good,” Sasani told CTV News.
Those dangerous situations include fraud and scams.
“Even some of the common scams or bad guys are those pretending to be police or law enforcement event spoofing our caller ID numbers and threatening people to pay with bitcoin, gift cards or cash,” Sgt. Hal Lam with the economic crime unit said.
It’s all one more layer of protection for newcomers.
“Not knowing how government works puts you at risk of believing a scammer so it's important for them to know that government won’t phone you and ask for a credit card,” Barbar says.
There was also information about bike safety and free helmets were handed out, as well as details on SGI driver licensing.
Driving rules were also covered which Barbar says is a big adjustment for many, especially those with small children.
“Child seats — in so many countries in the world, that’s a foreign concept, so we include the requirement for children to be in special seating while in a motor vehicle and we’re even giving away child seats,” he said.
The information at the newcomer event can also be found on the SPS website. Barbar says they will host special sessions for large groups on request.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'We are declaring our readiness': No decision made yet as Poland declares it's ready to host nuclear weapons
Polish President Andrzej Duda says while no decision has been made around whether Poland will host nuclear weapons as part of an expansion of the NATO alliance’s nuclear sharing program, his country is willing and prepared to do so.
Deadly six-vehicle crash on Highway 400 sparked by road rage incident
One person was killed in a six-vehicle crash on Highway 400 in Innisfil Friday evening.
Invasive and toxic hammerhead worms make themselves at home in Ontario
Ontario is now home to an invasive and toxic worm species that can grow up to three feet long and can be dangerous to small animals and pets.
First court appearance for boy and girl charged in death of Halifax 16-year-old
A girl and a boy, both 14 years old, made their first appearance today in a Halifax courtroom, where they each face a second-degree murder charge in the stabbing death of a 16-year-old high school student.
Central Alberta queer groups react to request from Red Deer-South to reinstate Jennifer Johnson to UCP caucus
A number of LGBQT+2s groups in Central Alberta are pushing back against a request from the Red Deer South UCP constituency to reinstate MLA Jennifer Johnson into the UCP caucus.
Opinion I just don't get Taylor Swift
It's one thing to say you like Taylor Swift and her music, but don't blame CNN's AJ Willingham's when she says she just 'doesn't get' the global phenomenon.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
It's 30 years since apartheid ended. South Africa's celebrations are set against growing discontent
South Africa marked 30 years since the end of apartheid and the birth of its democracy with a ceremony in the capital Saturday that included a 21-gun salute and the waving of the nation's multicolored flag.
Last letters of pioneering climber who died on Everest reveal dark side of mountaineering
George Mallory is renowned for being one of the first British mountaineers to attempt to scale the dizzying heights of Mount Everest during the 1920s. Nearly a century later, newly digitized letters shed light on Mallory’s hopes and fears about ascending Everest.