Tomorrow the leader of a grass-roots foot patrol in Winnipeg will be speaking about the role of community at the United Nations conference in Abu Dhabi.

James Favel started the Bear Clan Patrol as it is now in 2012, but his work keeping Winnipeggers safe started in 1992. It had hopes of allowing Winnipegger's to help people in inner-city communities in a non-threatening way. 

"In July of 2015 we started doing our walks on a regular basis and we have been doing them ever since," Favel says. 

Now, Favel will be heading across the globe for a United Nations Forum in Abu Dhabi to discuss traditional authority roles in urban areas. 

"I'm hoping to gain some insight on how to do what we're doing better."

The Traditional Authorities Roundtable will be addressing the role of authorities such as headmen and chiefs in urban cities. They will be discussing topics such as how connections between traditional authorities around the world can be improved. 

"I'm hoping to convey the best attributes of Bear Clan, and in the time remaining I hope to gain some insight and learn something myself," Favel says. "I'm hoping to gain some insight on how to do what we're doing better."

Favel departed from Winnipeg on February 9th 2020 and will be speaking at the roundtable tomorrow.