Model Advances Public Safety, Connects People To Services In Campbell River

People in Campbell River will soon have faster access to services for individuals at risk of harm or victimization.

Safe community situation tables gather front-line workers from the public safety, health and social service sectors to identify high-risk individuals and rapidly connect them to services and supports they need, before they experience a negative or traumatic event.

The Province is providing Campbell River with a $60,000 grant to continue to support the community’s situation table with funding to be allocated over three years.

North Island MLA Michele Babchuk says safe community situation tables not only address critical challenges Campbell River is facing, but it will also pave the way for lasting improvements and make the community safer and stronger.

The Province has 36 operational safe community situation tables. The Campbell River table has been operational since 2022, and last year was the second most active table in the province based on referrals.

As part of its work, partners meet weekly to address issues pertaining to the community, such as mental health and addictions, homelessness, poverty and survival crime.

Mayor Kermit Dahl says the funding from the Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General will support the continued operation of the Campbell River situation table and its critical work.

“Supporting a healthy and safe community is a key priority for council, and the Campbell River situation table is a great example of working across various mandates to effect positive change in our community,” said Dahl.

The tables are considered a best practice for improving community safety and well-being by enabling community front-line workers to, among other things, identify risks through real-time information sharing; reduce long-term demand on emergency and police resources; leverage and co-ordinate existing community assets and relationships between health supports, victim services, and culturally safe support and services; plan and deliver collaborative interventions before an incident occurs; and reduce increased risk in people’s lives.

Since 2018, more than $3 million has been provided in grants to B.C. regions and communities to facilitate local safe community situation tables, intervention circles and other related initiatives.

There are 45 funded situation tables and intervention circles in B.C. Thirty-six are operational and the other nine are under implementation.

To learn more, visit Government of British Columbia.