"It's a scary world out there," said one neighbour to another when they met on a Canadian street corner between heat waves. Comments like this are replacing the traditional Canadian "hot enough for you" mantra, but there is no humour or bonhomme in this resignation to the fates.

The twenty-first century is not fun. Rumblings of war and graphic photographs continue to fuel the growing unease in our daily lives. Headlines continue to blast us with violent extremes. Crime, murder, terrorism and robbery have become part of our everyday lives.

The media seem intent on making us feel increasingly vulnerable, but in most neighbourhoods, things are not as bad as we are afraid they might be. Yes, since 9/11, the automatic safety of Canadian communities seems ended, but we still live in a backwater of world violence. CNN may make you feel that the world and terrorism are in your livingroom, but they are not. Your reality is out your front door. Getting involved in local issues, meeting your neighbours and sharing your skills and knowledge for community improvement projects are still the best way to invest in security within your neighbourhood and within your home.

Action is always a good antidote to uncertainty. Although the Neighbourhood Watch Program ended this year, other local involvement programs are a great place to start if you find your feeling less in control of your surroundings.

Residents of one Toronto community decided to move into action when their neighbourhood seemed under siege. When police told residents of North Rosedale that professional thieves had targeted their community, the ratepayers association took action. The significant increase in home break-ins and car thefts put everyone on edge, but the North Rosedale Ratepayers Association (NRRA) did not stop with warning letters and suggestions on protecting property and possessions.

NRRA launched its "Be a nosey neighbor" campaign to encourage cooperation in making a quick and dramatic reduction in burglaries and car thefts. The campaign was designed to encourage residents to call police as soon as they saw anything or anyone out of the ordinary. Local police are ready to respond to this increased vigilance.

Here's what NRRA shared with its residents to make their community a safer place to live:

Published: August 26, 2003

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Futurist and Strategist PJ Wade is "The Catalyst" - intent on "Challenging The Best to Become Even Better." PJ earned this title by translating the dynamic impact of Boomers and their multi-generation families into relevant insights that start people thinking and taking action—in business and in life. Author of 8 books and more than 1800 published articles, PJ encourages individuals to become their own futurist. PJ writes and speaks about the insight, knowledge and solid decision-making skills that professionals and their clients need to live and work in this vortex of change. For instance, since PJ knows that home is headquarters for the new decades-long "unretirement," she wrote the popular book "Reverse Mortgages: Best Friend, Worst Enemy...Your Choice!", which is filled with suggestions and cautions on protecting, building and managing home equity. Her new business book, "What's Your Point?: Cut The Crap, Hit The Mark & Stick!" will be published in 2012. As The Catalyst, PJ provides strategic communication, client appreciation and advanced education services to the financial, tourism, lifestyle and service sectors - and the clients they serve. A frequently-quoted financial and business commentator, PJ is a thought-provoking strategic speaker who offers practical, real-life suggestions on leaving "the box" behind and embracing Forward Thinking - a talent she regularly demonstrates in this column. For more on keynotes, blogs, books and information on a range of 21st-Century topics, visit TheCatalyst.com.