Perceptions of safety in Nanaimo, B.C., improved after city measures: report

Safety measures launched in 2022 in the downtown core of Nanaimo, B.C., have improved the perception of safety and cleanliness in the area but it is unclear whether there has been a tangible decrease in "social disorder," according to an evaluation by consulting agency Deloitte.

The City of Nanaimo's community safety plan was launched in response to rising levels of visible homelessness, open drug abuse, vandalism, and overall social disorder in the downtown core, according to the city. 

The measures include community safety officers (CSOs), a city cleaning team, improved security in parking garages, and improved vandalism cleanup.

The Deloitte report said feedback from local groups found CSOs have made a "notable impact on the perception of safety and cleanliness of downtown areas." It also said it is "widely recognized" that social disorder downtown would be worse without the measures in place.

But it found there was not sufficient quantitative data to measure whether there has actually been a tangible decrease of social disorder. 

The report said there is anecdotal evidence that CSOs are responding to calls that would have previously been dealt with by other services such as police, fire, and health, allowing those professionals to focus on more critical calls. 

It also made several suggestions, including increasing CSOs and the city cleaning team, implementing a park ambassador program during the summer, and hiring an additional manager to lead the co-ordination and monitoring of the safety plan. 

"I'm pleased and proud of all the work that's been done," said Nanaimo Mayor Leonard Krog at a public meeting on Monday. 

Krog said the real solutions need to come from other levels of government, like the province.

"It frustrates me that the source of this misery is not going to get solved," said Krog. "But we can do what we can to try to alleviate it."