Nipper wins award for taking a bite out of crime

Near North Crime Stoppers
News Release

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Near North Crime Stoppers (NNCS) has won a provincial award at its annual Ontario Association of Crime Stoppers meeting. The “special project” award was for its crime-fighting mascot Nipper and the resulting colouring book. Nipper was the canine creation of world-renowned cartoonist and Near North resident Lynn Johnston of ‘For Better or for Worse’ fame.

With Nipper secured NNCS needed a way to spread his crime prevention message, (“Help Nip Crime in the Butt”) to the youngsters of the Near North community. After much meeting and brainstorming a colouring book featuring the story of how Nipper came to be such a dogged crime fighter was developed. Once again Lynn Johnston - along with key input from educators within the North Bay area – provided her talents to come up with characters and a story line for the one-of-a-kind children’s colouring book.

Johnston, North Bay area cartoonist Dave Palangio, and members of NNCS put their creative forces together to fine tune and finalize the package. NNCS secured copyright for the valuable book and its contents. The NNCS board then received a $35,000 grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation to fund a limited printing – in both official languages - of “How Nipper Became the Crime Stopping Dog”. During 2006, 20,000 copies of the colouring book were produced and an intern was hired to develop an entertaining and educational presentation for kids based on Nipper’s story.

Throughout 2006, nearly 130 presentations were made with Nipper in attendance at schools from all four school boards across the NNCS service area. Over 11,000 primary & elementary school students received the colouring book and its crime-fighting message. Both Nipper and his colouring book were a big hit with children and teachers alike! Educators continue to use this unique teaching tool as part of lesson planning under the school curriculum. Board chair Conrad Thibeault says, “This colouring book and its message have been brought into thousands of homes, raising the awareness of the Crime Stoppers program with students’ families. The colouring books are now a prominent and popular product distributed to children and parents at NNCS public appearances,” adds Mr. Thibeault. Nipper and his story have become such a hit with kids that he’s a sought out celebrity for a photo op whenever he’s in public!

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