1M = 1L
That's the anti-gang message that leapt onto the screen during the 59 second public service announcement called Step In, Step Up, Can't Take It Back, created by two graduates of Kelly Road secondary.
One mistake equals one life.
"What I like about this video is it's youth telling the youth the message, we wag our fingers a lot saying don't do this, don't do that, but when you guys do it, it's even more powerful," said Prince George RCMP Supt. Eric Stubbs, who addressed the youth-filled audience at the public service announcement's debut at the Cineplex theatre Friday afternoon.
Chelsey Cherkas and Kayla Thorell, both 18, are the winners of the Step In, Step Up anti-gang video contest that was open to 13 to 18 year olds in the province, a project funded through the Province of B.C.'s Civil Forfeiture Program. The video will air on CKPG beginning Monday, Jan. 20 and is also at www.communitypolicing.princegeorge.ca or check it out on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LiEHXV2a9vU.
The theme of the program is for youth to step in, by getting involved, and step up, by taking a stand against gang recruitment and activity.
From 14 entries, five were selected as finalists, with Cherkas and Thorell taking top spot.
Cherkas heard about the contest through her teacher Rob Bennett in Kelly Road's digital media film and digital photography class.
Cherkas said she immediately wanted to take on the project and wrote a monologue and then filmed each image to match each sentence.
"Kayla and I have been friends since we were in Grade 6 and even though she's shy, she helped me out and took some days off work for this and that means a lot," said Cherkas. "I really appreciate that she stepped up and took a role in the video. The story is about how gang membership will affect family and friends around you."
The final piece was professionally reproduced by a local business, Video Nexus, owned by Steph St. Laurent.
Cherkas and Thorell each received at $250 gift card from London Drugs, while Kelly Road has been awarded a digital video prize package valued at more then $1,200.
Cherkas now lives in Alberta where she plans to enroll in a criminal justice program in the fall, while Thorell is currently studying at CNC and hopes to enroll in the nursing program this fall.
If anyone has information about gang activity in Prince George, the RCMP ask that you call 250-561-3300 or anonymously contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477, online visit www.pgcrimestoppers.bc.ca or text-a-tip to CRIMES (274637) using key word 'pgtips'.
