Kamloops, BC — The City of Kamloops and City Council are welcoming a new provincial investment aimed at strengthening community safety and supporting coordinated responses to complex social challenges.
The Province of British Columbia recently announced new measures to help local governments, partners and small businesses better respond to public safety concerns, including coordinated enforcement, stronger information sharing, and supports for people experiencing complex needs.
This announcement reflects priorities that Kamloops City Council has been actively advocating for, including the need for a more effective and flexible approach to address community impacts and replace previous programs such as Securing Small Business Rebate Program.
“We’ve been advocating for tools that better support coordinated responses to repeat offenders and complex, high-impact situations, especially for our business districts. We are pleased to see the Province taking action in an area we have consistently raised as a priority,” said Deputy Mayor Mike O’Reilly. “We look forward to building on this work and continuing our advocacy at the upcoming UBCM convention, where we have requested meetings with provincial representatives to discuss additional actions, such as advancing a community court pilot program, alongside this initiative to better support communities like Kamloops.”
“This announcement is a positive step forward for communities like Kamloops,” said Ken Uzeloc, Director of Protective Services. “While we are still working through how this new program will be implemented locally, it presents an opportunity to expand our work with the Province, community service providers, and the RCMP to improve outcomes for residents and businesses. At the same time, we will continue to push for additional responses and innovations that support a safer community.”
The City has been advancing a collaborative approach to community safety, working closely with Interior Health, social service agencies, and enforcement partners to align resources and respond more effectively to ongoing community concerns.
The City of Kamloops will continue to review program details as they become available and work with partners to identify how this initiative can be integrated into ongoing local efforts.
