Top Stories of 2023: Concerns increase about public safety in Nanaimo

“The downtown core is one of the most beautifully, geographically set cities,” Tereza Bajan, co-chair of the Nob Hill Neighbourhood Association, told the crowd. “Everyone I talk to on the north end says ‘you know what, I’d love to go downtown and spend my money down there, but it’s not safe’. Our little town is not safe.”

Others spoke regarding their experiences of social disorder, which had negatively affected their personal lives or businesses.

The event culminated with Mayor Leonard Krog clashing with event organizers after a speech imploring for provincial action.

“I want you to write to [provincial leaders], tell them how you feel, that this will be for you a vote determining issue in the next election. I had rather hoped….” Krog said, before organizers thanked him for speaking. “I’m not done yet, sorry”, Krog replied.

Other City councillors attended the meeting, however no representatives from either federal or provincial levels of government were recognized.

Millstone River shooting
On March 12, Clint Smith, the owner of a local mechanic shop, spent nearly three weeks in hospital after he was shot while attempting to recover stolen items from an encampment along Terminal Ave near the Millstone River.

Local community groups gathered near the incident the following day, with Collen Middleton of the Nanaimo Area Public Safety Association (NAPSA) calling on help from the province.

“Enough was enough so long ago. Civil society cannot sustain this burden, it’s just not possible.”

Three days later, over 100 people gathered again, this time at neighbouring Pearson Park to once again call for more action from all levels of government to improve public safety.

Collen Middleton of the Nanaimo Area Public Safety Association speaks at an official gathering on March 16, calling on more action from government on public safety. (Jordan Davidson/NanaimoNewsNOW)

Representatives from neighbourhood watch groups from across B.C. spoke, sharing ideas and strategies on how they respond to social disorder in their communities.

Meanwhile, local RCMP released a warning about the dangers of attempting to retrieve stolen property on their own, emphasizing the importance of avoiding direct confrontations with any alleged thieves.

“If you feel comfortable going with a friend, have a phone, and follow at a safe distance and call the police,” said Reserve Cst. Gary O’Brien with the Nanaimo RCMP. ” This is the person I think has my property, this person is wearing this, and they are going in this direction.’ We’ll get there as quick as we can to help you.”

One man was arrested and charged with a single count of pointing a firearm without lawful excuse on March 27 in relation to this incident, but those charges were dropped in July.

It was later revealed Smith and his group went to the camp in protective equipment and armed with multiple weapons, including a baton, according to a special statement from the BC Prosecution Service.

Province responds
On April 12, B.C. Premier David Eby, along with public safety minister Mike Farnworth and attorney general Niki Sharma, came to Nanaimo to announce the Harbour City will be included in a program which promised to target repeat violent offenders.

The Repeat Violent Offending Intervention Initiative Hub involves 40 new prosecutors province-wide working in 12 communities for better communication and cohesion between various arms of the province justice system.

The program was expected to start in early May and has been implemented in Nanaimo.

Premier David Eby announced Nanaimo as one of 12 host cities for a new repeat offender intervention program, when he was in the Harbour City on April 12. (Jordan Davidson/NanaimoNewsNOW)

Enough is enough
The public safety rallies continued following the provincial announcement, with almost 200 people heading to Diane Krall Plaza on April 27.

Speakers included Smith, community members, business owners, and Mayor Krog, who repeated statements he’s made numerous times publicly that governments past and present at all levels share the blame for the current situation regarding the spiraling toxic drug crisis, mental health and housing issues.

“It’s not a blame game. Every government of every stripe has participated in the closing of institutional care and the cessation of the services people in dire straits needed. That’s not political, that’s just the truth.”

Another shooting along the Millstone River
On June 14, another violent incident occurred along the banks of the Millstone River, which injured one person and resulted in the arrest of two others.

Another public safety rally followed at Pearson Park along Terminal Ave, where a smaller crowd brought signs again demanding change.

Local community members and representatives from the Newcastle Community Association spoke about their concerns regarding firearms and other weapons inside encampments, and how the ongoing violence had those living in the neighbourhood afraid to leave their homes.

In August, the encampment along the Millstone River was the focus of a large-scale clean-up operation by City of Nanaimo crews, with support from the provincial government.

President of the Newcastle Community Association Karen Kuwica (centre) reads a speech in front of the crowd at Pearson Park on June 20. (Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)

Public safety committee
The city of Nanaimo announced in mid-November, they were looking for engaged volunteers to join a Public Safety Committee to advise safety and security in the community.

“We know that voter turnout is often pretty dismal and part of that is because people feel alienated from the political process. This is a way to become involved in a direct, meaningful and helpful way,” Krog told NanaimoNewsNOW.

The committee will include two city councillors and seven members of the public and is scheduled to meet every second month until November 2026, coinciding with the existing Council’s term.

The deadline to apply for the committee was Dec. 1 but no appointees have been publicly named to date.

Business action
On Oct. 30, members of NAPSA were front and centre helping to spearhead a new provincial group demanding change from provincial and federal governments on social disorder, mental health and addictions, and criminal justice reform.

Kevan Shaw, a director of NAPSA, said the newly formed SOS: Save Our Streets coalition brings together community safety groups, chambers of commerce, business associations and major corporations such as London Drugs and Save-On-Foods.

“A huge province-wide coalition of major associations, businesses, organizations that like us in Nanaimo have had enough. We’ve had enough of the increasing social disorder, the fires, the break-ins, the shoplifting, the assaults that are plaguing our areas that were once very safe communities.”

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by NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

Top Stories of 2023: Concerns increase about public safety in Nanaimo

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