An updated Online Safety Toolkit can been launched in Lethbridge. (Photo: Lethbridge News Now)

By David Opinko

Lethbridge’s ‘Online Safety Toolkit’ updated as tech evolves

Jun 23, 2025 | 11:10 AM

The City of Lethbridge and Lethbridge Police Service (LPS) are providing additional resources to help people stay safe online.

Their Online Safety Toolkit now lives on the LPS website, and police say the revamped resource helps families and youth navigate today’s digital world.

Ashley Killins, a Safer Communities Educator with the Building Safety Communities (BSC) initiative, says it covers topics like violence, cybersecurity, gang recruitment, fraud and scams, parental controls, social media apps and navigating real-time digital risks.

The updated version also includes sections on:

• In the News – Highlights local online risks featured in the media. Topics include social media gang recruitment, online radicalization and the rise of online sexual exploitation.
• Youth Zone – Offers support for youth when things get risky online. Topics include cyberbullying, tips for safe online interactions and the risks of sharing intimate images and messages.

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“When our program started, the BSC team met with school divisions and organizations that serve youth in Lethbridge to identify gaps in services and education,” says Killins. “Online safety education was one area that was consistently identified. The toolkit began as a resource for families but has grown into something much bigger.”

LPS Constable Chris Andrade says police are often called after something has already happened, but one of the toolkit’s greatest strengths is prevention.

“Thanks to the dedicated efforts of the City of Lethbridge’s Building Safer Communities team, this new toolkit offers proactive strategies for families to manage online risks effectively,” says Andrade.

The Online Safety Toolkit can be accessed on LethbridgePolice.ca/OnlineSafety

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