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Flash mob supports victims of crime

Downtown Prince George was treated to some spontaneous entertainment Monday morning when 170 local elementary and secondary school students held a flash mob in front of the Prince George RCMP detachment to kick off National Victims of Crime Awareness
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The flash mob held Monday morning in front of the local RCMP detachment sees students and Cst. Sonja Blom go through their paces during the dance.

Downtown Prince George was treated to some spontaneous entertainment Monday morning when 170 local elementary and secondary school students held a flash mob in front of the Prince George RCMP detachment to kick off National Victims of Crime Awareness Week.


Joined by local RCMP officers, they performed a choreographed dance to Taylor Swift’s Shake it Off - the same name of this year's theme, focusing on the idea of survivor to thriver and youth.


“People can overcome, even though terrible things happen to people," said Krista Levar, RCMP Victim Services Coordinator. "That’s why we went with the shake it off theme."


“I think it’s important for them to have an idea of what victimization looks like and the fact that is that anyone can potentially be a  victim. Also anyone can be a perpetrator so it’s smart to be able to take care of yourself but also to take care of others in your life.”


After a couple months of practice with the mostly Grade 6 and 7 students, it also meant the kids interacted with the organizations who off victim services in Prince George.


"It’s a great way for us to connect and do outreach work," Levar said.


Students have learned a lot since they started, said co-organizer John Giannisis from School District 57.  


“It was a great feeling being involved in creating this flash mob to raise awareness for victims of crime,” he said.


“Some kids might be scared to come forward because of domestic violence or sexual assault or fear. They might know the person that harmed them and actually care about that person so it’s just really important for them to understand these people need support and a lot of these kids might actually be victims themselves.”


RCMP victim services sees around 1,000 people each year. The 24-hour crisis response can be reached at 250-561-3329.


The students were pulled from schools across the district: Van Bien, Spruceland Traditional, Nukko Lake, Glenview, Heather Park, Hart Highlands and Morfee in Mackenzie. Students from Mackenzie secondary and the John McInnis Centre for Learning Alternatives also participated.


A fully-edited, multi-camera, professional-quality production of the flash mob will be available online later this week.


The event was a joint effort between School District 57 and the three Prince George area victim services units from the Native Friendship Centre, Elizabeth Fry Society and the Prince George RCMP.