Multiple incidents in Nanaimo's downtown area in 2022, including robberies, assaults, and a murder, had the community calling for change. (File Photos/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

community concerned

Top Stories of 2022: Safety concerns continue through Nanaimo’s downtown

Dec 30, 2022 | 4:21 PM

NANAIMO — Frustrations continued to mount over safety and security throughout the city, particularly in the downtown.

Various demonstrations were held in response to a string of challenges and incidents which saw an already struggling area of the community hit harder, while the City of Nanaimo made a major commitment to answer long-time calls for action.

In April, city councillors gave unanimous support for a Downtown Nanaimo Safety Action plan with an estimated $2.5 million annual price tag.

The action plan, which took effect on July 1, and included adding another downtown community clean team and hiring 12 uniformed community safety officers (CSO).

Author of the plan, consultant Allan Neilson, said a tiered approach, which has seen positive results in communities like Kamloops and Maple Ridge, is one of the main differences between this plan and past efforts to curb disruptive behaviour.

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“It’s very clear…that there are not enough services for people in need in Nanaimo and indeed other communities,” said Neilson. “There are some services for people in need so we want as an outcome of this plan to ensure wherever those services exist that we do allow for increased connection to services.”

The new community safety officers (CSO’s) hit the streets of Nanaimo this summer, with a focus on public safety in the downtown and Old City Quarter.

The officers began work in teams of three providing coverage seven days a week in ten-hour shifts beginning at 6 a.m and ending at 2 a.m.

City manager of bylaw services Dave LaBerge noted the CSO’s mandate is the downtown core bordered by Milton St. to Comox Rd., it’s hoped they will venture to other areas after the team gets established.

“We know that unsheltered populations and disorder occur everywhere in the city and to a certain extent I think these officers are going to be responsive as best as they can to other areas of the city as well.”

In a bid to further steer downtown in the right direction, the City of Nanaimo approved $50,000 to help downtown businesses and property owners clear and combat costs associated with mischief as part of their Action plan.

A total of $50,000 was provided for 2022 and $30,000 for 2023.

Concerns were raised by councillors about limiting it to just the downtown, essentially penalizing other businesses, however Council supported it with the hope it would stand as a pilot project for relief elsewhere.

The grant program would cover a maximum of $1,000 per incident of vandalism, with properties able to apply twice in a calendar year.

More long term changes for downtown though will take time as programs become more established and effective.

However, social challenges for the area were consistent through the year.

One day before the Downtown Nanaimo Safety Action Plan was announced, RCMP arrested a man using roof tops as a way to break into several downtown businesses.

In mid-August, a Nanaimo woman was charged with aggravated assault after a man was stabbed in the head near the transit loop by Port Place Shopping Centre.

Early September saw an apparent random overnight stabbing which claimed the life of a local man at Maffeo Sutton Park.

The incident triggered a more tangible community response in the form of a rally in front of the Nanaimo courthouse on Sept. 14.

Over 150 people representing business, communities, and neighbourhood associations attended the event following Parsons’ murder and numerous store robberies.

Many expressed frustration and outage toward senior levels of government for allowing the situation to deteriorate so far.

Willow Friday, owner of Iron Oxide Art Supplies on Victoria Rd. said the lack of rehabilitation for prolific offenders is contributing to a “very scary” situation in Nanaimo.

“(Offenders) believe, rightly so, they can keep stealing, mugging, lighting fires, being violent and sexually exploitative with no consequences.”

She relayed her own experiences of having one particular individual repeatedly steal from her store, with dozens of incidents reported to police but no charges ever coming.

“…because the police on direction from the court have been told not to forward charges. What am I supposed to do? Our judicial system is failing both this person and our community.”

The rally took place prior to a pair of downtown safety summits staged by the Downtown Nanaimo Business Association, which occurred on Sep. 21 and Sep. 28 at St. Paul’s Church.

Next year will mark a major opportunity for the city’s downtown.

A proposed development of the former Howard Johnson hotel site could continue proceeding through its various stages, while a new hotel on Gordon St. next to the Vancouver Island Conference Centre is nearing completion.

Programs and supports initiated will have more time under their belts and be better poised to respond to changing conditions in a challenging part of the community.

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