Victoria-Nanyimo, BC city, is considering the construction of a 1.8-meter high fence to protect its employees from the “circle”, violence and disorders of people associated with an overdose prevention site next to the city hall.
Employees proposed by $ 412,000 fences cite the “intimidation and harassment” of the employees, especially those who work quickly or late, as well as damage the employees’ vehicles, fire near the door and a normal deterioration of the site.
The plans are underlined in a staff report, stating that a zoning variance would require to make a “strong decorative, coined iron” fence permission to make 60 cm long compared to 1.2 meters.
The report was written in advance of a council committee meeting on Wednesday to approve the report and funding.
Mayor Leonard Crrog said in an interview on Monday that the municipality had a legal obligation to protect its employees and property, and the final cost could be less or more than the recommended budget.
“We cannot overcome everyone’s personal property,” he said.
“We cannot control every road, but we have a duty for our employees, which is legal and current and very clear. This report represents our employees, their feelings, and more important, and sad, and sad, their fear and their experiences in the last few years represents their fear, as we have seen that the situation on our streets has become a challenge.”
City Hall and its service and resource centers, or SARC, are near the overdose prevention site funded by island health and run by Canadian Mental Health Association. It was shifted to Albert Street next to the city hall in December 2022.
“Since this transfer, the city has experienced a significant increase in disorders around the City Hall and SARC,” the report said.
“During the hours of operations of operations, both disorganized behavior is common. When the closure is closed, the individuals often gather in the shaded areas around the parking lots, gardens, and the halls of the city and SARC, which leads to considerable security and operational challenges.”
The report states that “there are congregation of 20 to 30+ persons during the morning and evening hours.”
Fence’s recommendation documents, which the council has so far approved, says that the area is once a place for “circle, littering, violence, and property related concerns, including staff vehicles, fire, litter, barbarity and safety risks, including damage and theft,” specially for employees reaching the resource center. ”
It states that overdose prevention site serves as “highly weak and marginalized population” with many people in excessive poverty, with limited access to health care and support services.
It also notes that “a civilian convenience can be considered as a symbol of exclusion by some members of the public, especially in terms of visible homeless and public disorders in the surrounding areas.”
A public safety group stated that the schemes should be a “wake-up call” for provincial and federal leaders, which is to protect citizens everyday on the streets of the city from havoc, havoc and violence “.
Kevan Shaw, vice -president of the Nanymo Area Public Safety Association, said it was “terrible, disgusting and tragic” that the city employees were afraid to come to work, saying that many city residents and business owners also felt the same.
Crrog says the situation around the city hall was not “terrible” as the association suggested, but he said it is “very conscious” about the problems faced by the city.
He said that he agrees that the high levels of the government should be “not only rapid, but also with more substances.”
The criech said that he was “sympathy” for the untouchables of the association, saying that the city has hired 12 new community security officers and 15 new RCMP officers during the last five years, with more in this year’s budget.
He said that while the cost of fencing may be “aggressive” for some people, it is unfair to accuse the municipality of struggling for themselves to leave the residents and business.
“When you are talking about the amount of the area that is to be covered with fencing, I don’t think you will find that cost that cost is extraordinary compared to fences with fences that will really be safe when you are allowed for such a gating that is required.”
This report of Canadian Press was first published on 15 July 2025.
Wolfgang Web, Canadian Press
