The City's Community Safety and Wellbeing (CSWB) Plan identifies actions, in collaboration with multi-sector partners, to build a safe, inclusive and connected community where all residents feel welcome.
Read the Community Safety and Wellbeing Plan
Adopted by Council on July 3, 2025, the Community Safety and Wellbeing Plan was guided by an 11-member Community Leaders Panel convened by Mayor Alto. The panel includes Indigenous, business, public health, housing, law enforcement, fire prevention, local service provider and neighbourhood leaders.
Learn about the community engagement that helped inform the development of the Community Safety and Wellbeing Plan.
City Acts on Community Safety
On July 2, 2025, Mayor Marianne Alto announced in a Mayor’s media release that the City will spend $10.35 million to address community safety as it implements its first actions of its Community Safety and Wellbeing Plan. Initial actions will focus on Pandora, Princess and downtown. Read the City Acts on Community Safety media release.
Initial Progress Update
On September 18, 2025, staff presented an initial progress update on the City's community safety and wellbeing priority actions to City Council. Watch the archived presentation.
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 includes immediate interventions to reduce crime and public disorder, while creating longer-term solutions.
Timeline
The plan was presented to Council for consideration at the June 19, 2025 Committee of the Whole Meeting. Council adopted the CSWB Plan at the July 3, 2025 Daytime Council Meeting.
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.”
Media Release
Victoria's Community Safety Plan to Prioritize the Well-Being of All Residents - August 4, 2023
Community Safety and Wellbeing Plan Appendices
The following appendices formed part of the Community Safety and Wellbeing Plan information package for Council's consideration at the June 19, 2025 Committee of the Whole Meeting.