Victoria council has officially approved the reallocation of $10.3 million to kickstart its new community safety plan, marking the city’s most significant financial commitment yet to addressing urgent social and public safety challenges.
The funding will support the first six months of the plan, which includes hiring more bylaw officers, increasing police presence, funding new shelter spaces, and launching early efforts to rehabilitate the troubled Pandora Avenue corridor.
The money is being redirected from several existing projects and reserves. Most notably, $2.5 million will be pulled from the Centennial Square redevelopment plan.
That project will now be completed in two phases, with only the section containing the fountain moving ahead for now. The portion with the iconic sequoia tree will remain untouched in the short term.
Other sources of funding include:
- $1.5 million from upgrades previously earmarked for Royal Athletic Park
- $1.65 million from the city’s housing reserve
- $700,000 in planned future contributions to the housing reserve
- $4 million from the city’s financial stability reserve
City staff have said it would cost $13.61 million to fully implement all short-term goals laid out in the community safety plan. The $10.3 million now approved will get the first phase underway, with the city expected to explore further funding reallocations in the months ahead.
The plan was developed in response to growing concerns around street disorder, homelessness, and safety in key areas of the city, particularly the downtown core.
Victoria Mayor Marianne Alto has described the investment as a “necessary and urgent” step toward restoring confidence and livability in the city.
Work is expected to begin immediately.
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