Public safety, in and around downtown, has been an increasing concern for Calgarians. Ensuring that we take the right steps to solve the root of the issue is incredibly important by providing genuine solutions that make meaningful, long-lasting impacts. Along with increasing uniformed presence around the city, identifying community outreach services and social supports will help to sustain safety and vibrancy across our city.
In 2023, I established the Downtown Safety Leadership Table to identify barriers, opportunities, solutions, and strategies to address real and perceived safety issues in Calgary’s downtown. Led by community volunteers, the table convened more than 45 community partners, including social agencies, Indigenous elders, and law enforcement and public safety departments helped to develop 28 recommendations to support downtown safety.
Meeting with community members, businesses, and other organizations in Calgary’s city centre, the Downtown Safety Leadership Team found that the current environment is difficult for businesses to effectively operate without added safety costs for additional security, property repairs, or staffing challenges.
Creating a space where businesses can thrive and Calgarians and visitors can comfortably explore the city centre is just as important as connecting at-risk communities to resources and services that preserve their safety and dignity while addressing systemic challenges.
We’ve already seen action with many of the recommendations from the Downtown Safety Leadership Table. Number 15 on the list identified a need for a community court in which bylaw citations, breaches, and minor crimes resulting from complicated addiction and mental health situations can be resolved in a manner that addresses these factors. Piloting in late June 2024, this program is an alternative to fines or punitive action, instead focusing on connecting individuals with rehabilitation services and community building.
To help increase the sense of public safety, we’ve worked and invested to increase uniformed officer presence. Whether it’s Calgary transit peace officers patrolling transit stations and trains, or police officers patrolling downtown, these officers are working to deter crime and social disobedience while also quickly responding to emergencies. Working with local non-profits such as the Alpha House, we’re making sure that emergency responses are appropriate for the situation. These partnerships are critical to maintaining a foundation of trust within the city and to establish that the purpose of emergency services is to support and help all Calgarians.
Collaboration with other orders of government helps Calgary maintain services to support vulnerable communities. In 2023, the Government of Alberta contributed $14 million to help operate more than 1,800 emergency shelter spaces in Calgary, and the City invested $6.48 million into local non-profits to support the unhoused community. It’s these local non-profits that help individuals experiencing homelessness be connected to housing resources.
Working to create affordable housing is a critical concern amidst a housing crisis. There are a range of diverse and complex needs when assessing unhoused and vulnerable communities. We created a $6 million one-time fund to increase affordable housing for the indigenous people to support specific needs within their community. Additionally, transitional housing developments are working to build and increase access to housing to reduce the possibility of more people entering the shelter system.
By doing our research, asking the hard questions, and partnering with experts, we’re getting to the root of issues and increasing public safety within our city. Having resources such as social agencies and programs readily available for those who need it is an incredibly important step in supporting our greater community. By keeping all Calgarians safe, our whole city, from businesses to visitors, will be able to experience all that Calgary has to offer.