Waiting for friends in your own neighborhood shouldn't be something anyone should be scared to do. But it can be in the North End, depending on the time of day.

One woman sitting on a bench by herself on Selkirk Avenue says just by talking about the dangers makes her so concerned for her safety that she asked CTV to conceal her identity.

"When does it get scary? Like after 10, after 9 p.m.," she said.

The woman said she worries most about younger women and girls.

"I got jumped on a couple of times when I was younger. No one even stopped to help," said the woman, who is in her late thirties.

A team of volunteers hopes to make the North End safer.

They're called the Bear Clan Patrol, named after a similar group that existed in the 1990s for the same reason - protecting the community.

And each of the dozen volunteers, like Bonnie Rodgers-Monkman, said they know first-hand the dangers that lurk on the streets, especially for vulnerable women and girls.

“I lived right on Selkirk Avenue. I grew up right on Selkirk Avenue so I was always running away from guys trying to pick up young girls," said Rodgers-Monkman.

Back then, she said there were no places like the Ndinawe Drop in Centre on Selkirk Avenue for young people to run to for help.

Before Ndinawe started opening its doors 24 hours a day, young women told CTV the Robin's Donuts at Selkirk and Salter Street was the only safe place to run to when they needed help.

It was only a few months ago that Ndinawe expanded its hours.

But even with that, the Bear Clan said more needs to be done to make sure everyone is safe.

One man who takes it upon himself to keep an eye on the streets in some of the darkest corners of the North End agrees.

"They do need a lot,” said Lucas Aragon. “And this is why I'm here because I've been doing a year already on that side and seen a lot of beatings," said Aragon, holding a large sign standing on Jarvis Avenue in the dark.

The Bear Clan Patrol won't officially start monitoring streets until May but many in the North End like the idea of having them around, including 10-year-old Sarah who lives in the North End with her family.

"I think they're cool because they're protecting…our city. They're the good guys," said Sarah.

Mitch Bourbonniere is one of the original members from the 1990s. He said the timing is right for the patrol to come back.

"There's been lots happening, with missing and murdered women. (With Winnipeg) being called a racist city. I think there's been a real will just from the people to do something about keeping their own community safe," said Bourbonniere.

The Bear Clan Patrol begins its work May with a feast and gathering and hopes to meet with members of the Winnipeg police in the coming weeks to see how they may work together.

The Winnipeg Police Service confirms the meeting but has not committed yet to work with Bear Clan Patrol.