‘A lot of my friends ended up dying’: Speakers share stories of survival at Prince Albert gang prevention symposium

People are coming together in Prince Albert to find ways to combat gangs. Jasmine Pelletier has the story.

People are coming together in Prince Albert to find ways to combat gang activity.

Jonathan Mubanda took to the podium Thursday afternoon at a gang prevention symposium to share some of the hardships he faced following his family’s move to Canada.

“A lot of kids my age at that time, you know, we got introduced to gangs and introduced to different ways of making money,” he shared with reporters before his presentation.

He said early intervention from a coach kept him on the right path while he was growing up in Vancouver.

“She looked out for us and prevented us from going down that path and getting into a lot of trouble, which a lot of my friends did,” Mubanda said.

“A lot of my friends ended up dying, and some of them locked up in jail. But we were all in just the same neighbourhood, and we grew up in the same environment.”

• Get the latest news from Saskatoon, sent directly to you: Download the CTV News App

Mubanda’s presentation was part of day two of the three-day symposium.

There were also experts in the field speaking on addressing the issue.

The more than 150 participants included educators, social program workers and youth.

“I’m just kind of here just for general information, just to see how we can better support our clients, the families that we do support,” said settlement counsellor Katie Brandoline.

The symposium is designed to inform participants on ways to support youth in forming healthy social connections.

Organizer Jolene Furi said a 24-hour space for youth could deter gang entry.

“One of the examples that was used was three in the morning. They’re out, you know, they can’t be at their home or their home’s dangerous. They have nowhere to go,” she said.

“So, they go hang out with the people who are out at that time, which is criminals and gang members.”

Furi said that when she found out about a similar symposium in North Battleford, she wanted to bring one to Prince Albert.

The symposium at the Coronet Hotel was coordinated by the social support service Family Futures.