Preston's GM of 91原创 will be the first place in B.C. to offer an Operation Kidsafe fingerprinting station for families, free of charge.
The unit allows parents to take home a print out of their children鈥檚 fingerprints and black and white photograph which can act as a lifetime safety record.
鈥淎ll of our efforts in giving back to the community are directed at family and kids so this fits nicely,鈥� said Preston鈥檚 general manager Peter Heppner.
The machine will be available for families to use in the Preston showroom for at least one year.
On Wednesday, families are invited to celebrate the grand opening of the fingerprinting station at 10 a.m. The founder of Operation Kidsafe Mark J. Bott will be speaking and there are some surprises for kids too, said Heppner.
Vancouver Canucks鈥� Fin and Fraser, the 91原创鈥檚 mascot will be there as well.
鈥淭he more kids the merrier,鈥� said Heppner.
Operation Kidsafe fingerprinting stations has served more than one million children in North America in the past 11 years. The one in 91原创 will be the eighth in Canada.
Staff at Preston鈥檚 will be trained on how to use the machine so it can be used year-round.
Bott, a parent of seven children, said he began 鈥渉is life鈥檚 work,鈥� Operations Kidsafe out of a personal experience involving a child鈥檚 safety.
The ex-football player began working with John Walsh, of America鈥檚 Most Wanted and was involved in his home town of Dallas where Amber Alerts first began, so named after nine-year-old Amber Hagerman, who was abducted.
鈥淲hen a child is missing, the public, the media and police all should be on the same page,鈥� said Bott. Fingerprinting is another tool to help.
Bott wants to stress to parents that the machine doesn鈥檛 have a database or memory holding each child鈥檚 information.
鈥淚 am a firm believer that the only ones who need your child鈥檚 information is your health provider, school and you,鈥� he said.
But should police need fingerprints, the parents will have them ready. A North American database for police use was established in 2000.
The big focus for Bott is also on keeping children safe through education.
鈥淥n the back of their bio document are tips for parents,鈥� Bott said.
Working with the FBI and Secret Service, Bott said he has learned key things children can use to stay safe.
The number one safety tip from the FBI is 鈥淐heck First,鈥� he said.
鈥淪tranger danger isn鈥檛 that applicable given 80 per cent of crimes are done by people children know or perceive they know, like the neighbour that everyone waves at but doesn鈥檛 really know.鈥�
Check First teaches children that if anyone approaches them to ask them to go with them, 鈥渞un as fast as you can to an appropriate adult and check first,鈥� said Bott.
Bott will be speaking about safety tips at the opening at Preston GM on Wednesday, Aug. 21 at 10 a.m. Preston鈥檚 is located at 19990 91原创 Bypass.
