The City of Victoria is developing a Community Safety and Wellbeing Plan. Once complete, the Plan will identify actions for the City, in collaboration with multi-sector partners, to help make the community safer and to improve the wellbeing of all Victorians.
About
Victoria City Council is delivering on its recently adopted Strategic Plan by moving ahead with the development of a Community Safety and Wellbeing Plan, which will identify opportunities for the City to take a leadership role in making the community safer and improving wellbeing for all.
“We know that cities across the country are struggling with a variety of challenges including the safety and wellbeing of all their residents. Victoria is going to lead with a solution-focused plan that will encompass an intentional, balanced, practical re-imagination of community safety and wellbeing,” said Mayor Marianne Alto. "Each one of these panel members has one distinct thing in common – they care deeply about their community. I’m grateful they’re willing to give their time and leadership to help build a path forward.”
In August 2023, an 11-member Community Leaders Panel was convened by Mayor Alto to guide the draft Plan’s development and includes Indigenous, business, public health, housing, law enforcement, fire prevention, local service provider and neighbourhood leaders.
“Everyone deserves to feel safe, and we share people’s frustration with the uptick in repeat violent offending,” said Honourable Mike Farnworth, Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General. “All levels of government need to work together to address this complex issue, and we strongly support the City of Victoria’s development of a Community Safety and Wellbeing Plan. Municipalities can continue to count on the Province doing our part with the Safer Communities Action Plan, which is strengthening enforcement and leveraging mental health and addictions services to connect people with the help they need.”
Community Leaders Panel
The Community Safety and Wellbeing Plan’s Community Leaders Panel members include:
- Brianna Bear, Speaker and Artist, Songhees Nation
- Daniel Atkinson, Chief, Victoria Fire Department
- Del Manak, Chief, Victoria Police Department
- Jonny Morris, CEO, Canadian Mental Health Association BC Division
- Julian Daly, CEO, Our Place Society
- Marianne Alto, Mayor, City of Victoria
- Mike Benusic, Medical Health Officer, Island Health
- Robert Jawl, Managing Director, Jawl Properties Ltd.
- Sandra Severs, President, Victoria Downtown Residents Association and Chair, Victoria Community Association Network
- Shelly D'Mello, CEO, Inter-cultural Association of Greater Victoria
- Suzanne Bradbury, Co-Owner/CEO, Fort Properties
Read the BACKGROUNDER Community Leaders Panel Biographies
Collective Approach
Community safety and wellbeing require a collective approach to multiple complex issues, such as declining civility and social cohesion, increasing social disorder, inadequate housing supply and homelessness, poverty, inequality, addictions, mental and physical health challenges, criminal activity and other factors. The City’s Community Safety and Wellbeing Plan will include immediate interventions to reduce crime and public disorder, while creating longer-term solutions.
Timeline
The Plan will be developed over 15 months, starting in summer 2023, with the draft Plan delivered to Council by October 2024.
Aligned with Strategic Plan
The Community Safety and Wellbeing Plan is a deliverable of the City’s 2023-2026 Strategic Plan priority of “Community Wellbeing and Safety.” The City’s new Strategic Plan was developed by members of Council over a series of facilitated public discussions earlier this year and was informed by City staff.