Safe Communities Archives - Victoria Chamber

Misleading emails falsely claim to sell Chamber lists

January 28, 2026/in BizNews This Week, Chamber Awareness, Safe Communities/by Jim Zeeben

The Chamber does not sell our members’ contact information.

If you receive an email or message offering to sell you a list of Chamber members, please use caution. We are getting reports of emails soliciting our members with false claims.

The Chamber takes the protection of our members’ information seriously. Don’t engage in any way with these messages. Mark them as junk and delete.

If you have questions, please contact communications@victoriachamber.ca.

Support stronger reforms to crime prevention laws

January 28, 2026/in BizNews This Week, Chamber News, Government Federal, Safe Communities/by Jim Zeeben

Are you tired of seeing stories about repeat offenders creating chaos with downtown businesses? The Chamber has been an outspoken advocate for urgent changes from all levels of government, including federal. We supported their initial reform effort, but are now ramping up efforts to expand the changes.

You can help by emailing the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights and voicing your support for our efforts. The Chamber has adopted a formal letter we are working on with community partners that our members can use for an email campaign. If you want to support this, add your name and organization to the bottom of the info below, and then copy and paste the into an email to JUST@parl.gc.ca.

RE: Urgent amendments required to Bill C-14

I am writing to urge the federal government to strengthen Bill C-14 so it addresses the crisis of repeat property crime affecting downtowns, main streets and neighbourhoods across Canada.

In Greater Victoria, chronic theft, vandalism and street disorder have reached a breaking point. While Bill C-14 focuses on violent offences, it must also confront the repeated non-violent crimes that are devastating businesses, eliminating family-supporting jobs and undermining public safety.

Staff and customers face regular threats, employers cannot retain workers, and once-vibrant neighbourhoods are now widely perceived as unsafe.

Most troubling is the persistent release of prolific offenders. Individuals with dozens — sometimes more than 100 — theft convictions are routinely released on bail and reoffend within days, often at the same stores. This revolving door has eroded confidence in the justice system to the point many crimes now go unreported.

To address this, we urge the Committee to amend Bill C-14 to:

Include repeat offenders with significant histories of theft, vandalism or bail breaches in the reverse onus and bail-condition provisions.
Require courts to consider tertiary grounds for detention for prolific non-violent offenders, including chronic shoplifting.
Apply the new aggravating factor for retail crime to prolific shoplifters.
Rebalance the Principle of Restraint to restore proportionality in bail and sentencing decisions.
Permit consecutive sentencing for prolific non-violent offenders.

Without these changes, Bill C-14 will not address the crimes most damaging to communities and local economies. We urge you to act decisively.

Sincerely,

Name

Organization

Risk-screening tool helps police respond to crises

January 28, 2026/in BizNews This Week, Global Uncertainty, Safe Communities/by Jim Zeeben

Businesses in Greater Victoria care deeply about our community and the Chamber has a long history of calling for investing in mental health supports. This week, the province announced that Greater Victoria police departments will now have access to a tool that supports officers responding to people experiencing a mental health crisis.

HealthIM is a digital public-safety system that works by guiding responding officers through a series of questions to help facilitate a better assessment of the person in crisis. The evidence-based risk-screening tool also improves communication with health-care partners by using consistent clinical language and provides critical information to doctors and nurses immediately.

“At VicPD, we’re proud to be among the agencies implementing HealthIM to strengthen how we respond to mental health crises,” VicPD Chief Const. Fiona Wilson said. “By using consistent data rather than subjective interpretation, HealthIM helps police, health-care and community partners make better-informed decisions together.”

New shelter spaces help move people off the streets

January 21, 2026/in BizNews This Week, Government Local, Government Provincial, Safe Communities/by Jim Zeeben

Moving vulnerable people off of cold downtown streets is urgently needed as part of efforts to improve safety for all. This week’s news that 34 new shelter spaces will open in a former Victoria public-works building is a step in the right direction.

The Bridge Street Pathways Shelter, at 2920 Bridge St., is a 6,000-square-foot two-storey building on fenced property. Shelter spaces are only available if referred by outreach teams that will connect with people living outdoors on Pandora Avenue, Ellice Street and other areas downtown.

A non-profit housing association will operate the shelter 24/7, and provide on-site case management and washrooms. The shelter is funded for three years, including $6 million from the province and $700,000 from the City of Victoria.

Safer city conference a good reminder more work needed

January 21, 2026/in BizNews This Week, Government Local, Government Provincial, Safe Communities/by Jim Zeeben

The City of Victoria hosted a full-day conference on Wednesday to reiterate its exceptionally thorough and nuanced Community Safety and Wellbeing Plan originally released in June 2025.

The Spark and Shift conference included speeches from Mayor Marianne Alto, VicPD Police Chief Fiona Wilson and others. Break-out discussions centred around prevention, intervention and response were planned for the afternoon.

“Downtown safety is top of mind for many businesses, so we appreciate the effort that went into today’s conference,” Chamber CEO John Wilson said after the morning portion of the conference. “That said, businesses need to see urgent action that improves downtown immediately — as well as for the long term.”

The Chamber is calling on the provincial government to prioritize public safety in Downtown Victoria in next month’s budget. We’re also partnering on a campaign calling for the federal government to strengthen amendments to Bill C-14 to change how bail conditions are applied to repeat offenders. We want the law to include chronic property crime offenders as well as those who commit violent acts. We believe this will help remove the relatively small number of criminals who are responsible for an outsized number of crimes.

More details will be shared with Chamber members in the weeks ahead.

Cultural District plan would transform downtown

January 15, 2026/in BizNews This Week, Business And Economic Strength, Chamber Awareness, Government Local, New And Established Businesses, Safe Communities/by Jim Zeeben

A proposal that reimagines a section of downtown Victoria has been approved to move to the next step. Victoria council voted unanimously to approve the plans that Reliance Properties have for a new Capital Culture District.

The development would transform the area between 530 Chatham St. and the 1800 to 2000 block of Store St. into a neighbourhood supporting industry, arts and innovation.

The Chamber lent its support to the proposal through a video and letter to council.

“The proposal to build a Capital Culture District aligns with our mandate and we believe will help revitalize and reconnect this vital area of Downtown Victoria,” The Chamber’s letter stated. “Adding vibrancy and livability to downtown will help solve challenges around housing supply and safe communities … The proposal includes much needed parking, and preserve light industrial activities near our historic working harbour.”

Final approval for the development will be made at a yet to be determined date.

BC Health Minister addresses addiction crisis

January 15, 2026/in BizNews This Week, Safe Communities/by Jim Zeeben

BC’s Minister of Health Josie Osborne announced today that the province was ending its failed experiment with decriminalizing hard drugs. The province is also expanding its hotline for people seeking help with addictions, promising to speed up the time it takes to provide treatment.

“This is welcome news for businesses that have been frustrated watching vulnerable people in need not getting the help they are asking for,” Chamber CEO John Wilson said. “It’s time to move on from what clearly has not been working and focus on what organizations that care about our community have been calling for — a safe downtown starts with helping those who can’t help themselves and protecting them from predators.”

The Access Central phone line is active with Island Health, at 1-888-885-8824 from 9 am to 7:45 pm. The idea is to provide a simple access point to get a clinical assessment within 24 hours. Callers can then be referred to a detox facility for appropriate treatment, followed by support during their ongoing recovery.

“When someone makes the vulnerable and brave decision to seek help for substance use, they need access to treatment and care quickly,” Island Health Board Chair

Leah Hollins said in the media release.

VicPD beat patrols raise police presence downtown

January 15, 2026/in BizNews This Week, Safe Communities/by Jim Zeeben

The Victoria Police Department is reintroducing a dedicated beat team that will increase the presence of police officers in downtown Victoria.

The Chamber and downtown businesses have been calling for the return of a downtown police beat for months.

“We’re grateful to the VicPD for listening to our concerns and taking action,” Chamber CEO John Wilson said. “An increased police presence helps make people feel safer, whether they’re at work or enjoying the many incredible shops and services downtown.”

The VicPD beat team is composed of seven officers assigned to walk designated areas of the city as well as two officers dedicated to supporting Victoria’s bylaw department, VicPD said in a media release. Officers will regularly visit businesses to build relationships, listen to concerns and provide a consistent presence. A proactive approach supports crime prevention, neighbourhood problem-solving and stronger connections between police and the community.

VicPD discontinued its previous beat patrol in 2022 because it needed to reallocate limited resources.

“Visible policing matters, and relationship-based policing matters,” VicPD Chief Constable Fiona Wilson said. “When officers know the community and the community knows their officers, trust grows and safety improves.”

Let’s talk about city’s noise bylaw over lunch

January 7, 2026/in BizNews This Week, Fair Rules, Government Local, Safe Communities/by Jim Zeeben

The sounds of a city are rarely silent. Noise represents vibrancy and activity — groups of people spilling out of thriving restaurants and pubs, the hum of traffic and shrill of sirens or the din of construction. In the City of Victoria, we also have the overhead roar of seaplanes and the sounds of ships in our harbours and ports.

How can a city harmonize all that buzz with the needs of residents and others who need respite from the noise? Victoria is hoping to answer that question by modernizing its 23-year-old Noise Bylaw through a series of surveys and consultations.

The Chamber is helping facilitate the discussion by partnering with the city on a Lunch Engagement Session — Jan. 28, 12:30-2pm — at the Chamber office (201C – 633 Courtney St.). This session is for anyone who operates a business within Victoria’s municipal borders, and includes a light lunch.

Register here: NoiseBylawBusinessSession.eventbrite.ca

There’s also a survey specifically for businesses located in Victoria that will help city staff understand operational requirements and experiences with noise issues. The survey closes on Jan. 31.

The Noise Bylaw review aligns with objectives in the Official Community Plan, the Industry, Arts and Innovation Plan and the Victoria Music Strategy.

A report with an engagement summary will be shared with Council in spring 2026.

Register: Breakfast Engagement Session

Add your voice to help VicPD make Victoria safer

January 7, 2026/in BizNews This Week, Chamber Awareness, Government Local, Safe Communities/by Jim Zeeben

The Chamber has heard business concerns about social disorder in Downtown Victoria and we have loudly and unapologetically called for Safe Streets Now.

As the voice of business for Greater Victoria, we hope all of our members can add their voice to our efforts. One way to do that is be taking five minutes to fill out the Victoria Police Department‘s new business survey.

The survey will gather data on issues, safety and strategies that will help VicPD better understand how it can improve conditions immediately and in the years ahead.

“I’ve been impressed with the response from local police, and I’m excited to hear from VicPD Chief Fiona Wilson at our Chamber luncheon on Feb. 10,” Chamber CEO John Wilson said. “We’ve promised to up our advocacy to help build a better future for all, and events like this offer an opportunity for the business community to be heard, and to hear about what is being done to make downtown safer.”

To take the VicPD survey, use the QR code above or click the button below.

VicPD Business Survey

Register for Luncheon with VicPD Chief