This summer, Chestermere Positive Ticketing will mark 7 years of celebrating young people. In 2015, a group of professionals from MHCB Stepping Stones to Mental Health, Synergy, and Chestermere Addictions and Mental Health, passionate about helping young people flourish, decided to launch an initiative to recognize youth in the community. They wanted to do something to help youth see that they are a valued part of the community, the group was inspired by a similar program in another Alberta community that offered positive ticket to youth caught doing good in the community. The Chestermere Positive Ticketing Program was born. The group reached out to local RCMP who had expressed interest in exploring ways to engage with young people in the community in positive ways. The idea was that local officers who “caught” young people being kind, helpful, or doing something for their community could write them positive tickets. This positive reinforcement would foster and encourage similar behaviours, helping young people see that they are seen and valued.
The Positive Ticketing Program was originally made possible by a grant from Chestermere FCSS and the partnerships between Stepping Stones to Mental Health, Synergy, Chestermere Addictions and Mental Health, Chestermere RCMP, and Chestermere Public Library. This multi-disciplinary team approach enabled these groups to work together within the community to promote positive spaces for young people. The Positive Ticketing program is a preventative method of developing healthy young people within the city. By recognizing youth for positive behaviour, young people will experience a sense of community engagement, build healthy relationships between young people and protective services, and ultimately promote positive mental health and well-being. Each ticket issued contains a gift card or coupon to a local business as well as information on how to enter online to win larger prizes. Local businesses in and around Chestermere have played a key role in keeping the program alive over the past 6 years by donating coupons and gift cards to be awarded to young people. As of 2020 more than 1000 positive tickets have been handed out.
Community connection, caring neighbourhoods, positive relationships with non-parental adults, and a sense of purpose have all been identified by the Search Institute as part of the 40 Developmental Assets. This list of strengths and supports include both external and internal assets that when present in a young person’s life help that young person to thrive, succeed, and experience positive well-being. Young people need to feel that they are valuable and valued by the community around them, that their community sees them as a resource and values their service and contributions. The Positive Ticketing program helps to build these assets within the community by showing young people in tangible ways that the contributions they make are seen, celebrated, and valued. Safe, caring, and connected communities are another asset promoted by the Positive Ticketing Program. Through building positive relationships between youth and protective services, young people can experience a sense of safety and connection, knowing that their well-being is important and their community cares about them.
Throughout the years the initiative has celebrated young people out and about, in parks, community spaces, organizations, and within the schools. Unlike many reward systems that favour high achievers, athletes, and honour students, the Positive Tickets identify and celebrate the everyday acts of kindness that make the community and schools a better place. Lisa Shultz, Assistant Principal at Chestermere High School shares how the initiative has impacted the school community: “The positive ticketing campaign is an amazing opportunity to recognize our deserving students and connect them with community supports. It was so wonderful to see the joy and excitement from each student as they received their positive ticket. It made me extremely proud that I get to work with students who exhibit these tremendous qualities.” Chestermere High School Principal, Chris Robertson shared his experience with the Positive Ticketing program: “The Positive Ticketing has been a great experience at Chestermere High School. At first, students are taken aback when School Administration and an RCMP officer walk into class. Once they realize they are being rewarded for good behaviour, their emotions turn 180 and the big smile on their faces is all the indication I need to know how meaningful the recognition is to them. It creates a very positive connection between students and many of the adult authority figures in their lives.”
Many teachers also see the positive impact it has on the community. “I think it’s such a good way to recognize students in a bit of an unconventional way! Based on the reactions I’ve seen, students are pleasantly surprised and everyone is encouraged that what they do and who they are matters. [Assistant Principal] came and presented [student] with his ticket in Block 2 and we had such good energy in the class afterward. We should do positive ticketing more often!” shared Kim Ridley, a teacher at Chestermere High School.
The program has been a beautiful opportunity for local RCMP to connect with youth in positive ways. Sergeant Joe Stubbs shared: “For my officers, this program encourages them to look for good in the community. So much of policing patrols is spent looking for infractions or to intercede in a crime in progress. The benefit I see from the Positive Ticketing Program is the officers are now also looking for good deeds; youth following the rules; youth respecting their elders and their neighbours; youth having stewardship over their playgrounds. For the youth how have received a ticket, I have heard from their parents/caregivers that the act of being recognized by a police officer for a good deed has meant a lot to them and been a source of pride. For myself, I believe these positive interactions are what can change the way we view our communities. Putting an emphasis on the positive and less on the negative will go a long way to developing stronger and resilient communities.”
Parents have also expressed their appreciation, sharing that for some, a positive ticket was the first time their student had been recognized for anything, that being nominated for a positive ticket can have a huge impact on a student.
The positive ticketing program seeks to show young people that they are valued, appreciated, and seen within their communities. Interested community members can get involved by volunteering their time as committee members.
