Your safety is the biggest concern for Safe Communities Humboldt and Area, and 2017 was no different.

Executive Director Shari Hinz reflected on the year by looking back at the numerous ways they reached people over the last 12 months.

One of the main focuses continues to be safety in youth, and their Prevent Alcohol and Risk Related Trauma in Youth (PARTY) Program had an extra spotlight this year.

"We had an additional high school participate last year, and our program was featured in a couple of publications," says Hinz.

The Western Canadian Fire Chief's magazine, The Responder, had the program, as well as the Humboldt Fire Department highlighted. The program was also featured in the Community Initiatives Fund's September newsletter.

Hinz says that the program will see an added feature in the new year as Canada readies to legalize marijuana on July 1.

"Risk awareness and prevention education with our youth and drivers is going to be important, so that is going to be a pretty big focus for us next year."

As more ways to reach youth are developed, an addition was made in 2017 to connect with the older generations.

The organization introduced Senior Strong Safety Symposiums in November.

"We held four of those in the region in Middle Lake, Watson, Bruno and Humboldt, so it was a really busy year for us for sure."

The symposiums went over numerous topics, including fall and fraud prevention, senior abuse, and winter driving.

Hinz says that in ending the year, she was able to look at all the programs offered in 2017 and noted that they reached around 2,300 people in the area.