Latest news with #CommunitySafetyandWell-BeingPlan
Hamilton Spectator
12-06-2025
- Health
- Hamilton Spectator
Chatham-Kent adopts five-year Community Safety and Well-Being Plan with focus on prevention and collaboration
Chatham-Kent has officially adopted its updated Community Safety and Well-Being Plan (CSWB) for 2025–2029, reinforcing its commitment to building a safer, healthier and more inclusive community. The move follows a provincial mandate that requires every Ontario municipality to develop such a plan under the Community Safety and Policing Act, 2019. The plan, endorsed by Chatham-Kent Council on June 9, was informed by a combination of survey data, stakeholder engagement, and research from provincial and federal sources. Input from more than 350 residents and local leaders across sectors—healthcare, education, social services and emergency response—shaped the priorities and framework of the plan. The goal of the CSWB Plan is to create a community in which residents feel safe, connected and supported, while ensuring that services are accessible and equitable. It emphasizes a proactive and integrated approach to address social issues that affect safety and well-being, rather than relying on incident-based responses alone. Central to the plan is a planning framework that includes four areas of intervention: social development, prevention, risk intervention, and incident response. While each area plays a role, the plan calls for most resources and investments to be directed toward social development initiatives—long-term, proactive strategies that improve outcomes across the population. The plan outlines six priority areas of focus: substance use, mental health, housing and income security, public safety, community belonging, and children, youth and family wellness. Work in each of these priority areas will be led by dedicated action teams composed of local partners. These teams will be responsible for designing and implementing targeted strategies, engaging the public, tracking progress and adapting approaches as needed. Collaboration among agencies and improved data-sharing will be key to measuring impact and refining the plan over time. Key commitments include reducing stigma and systemic barriers associated with substance use, improving access to mental health supports, expanding housing and financial security options, enhancing public safety, and strengthening social ties within neighbourhoods. Investments will also be made in youth programming and initiatives that support healthy family dynamics. A major component of the plan's development was a community survey conducted in March 2025. Over a four-week period, 350 residents responded, providing valuable insights into local needs and perceptions. According to the survey, 70 per cent of respondents reported a sense of belonging in their communities, and more than 81 per cent said they had positive relationships with neighbours. While 65 per cent of people felt safe walking in their neighbourhoods after dark, nearly 80 per cent said they believed crime had increased over the last four years. Other findings highlighted concerns about unsupervised outdoor play for children, particularly among parents of children aged 5 to 12. Respondents identified substance use, criminal activity, mental health, physical activity, poverty, and education and employment as top community priorities. Municipal officials say the survey results, while informative, will be interpreted alongside broader datasets from Statistics Canada, Public Health Ontario and local partners such as the Chatham-Kent Ontario Health Team, Linck, Chatham-Kent Health Alliance, and emergency service providers. The next steps include sharing the full CSWB Plan with the public in summer 2025 through online platforms and printed copies at local libraries. Community members will continue to be invited to participate in consultations, strategy development, and ongoing feedback sessions. Planners also aim to establish sustainable funding sources, consult residents on specific action items, and build an evaluation strategy to monitor outcomes. The ultimate vision is a long-term reduction in systemic risk factors and improved coordination among services. For more information or to get involved, residents can visit . Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
CBC
06-04-2025
- CBC
Ottawa homicides concerning, but not necessarily on the rise, experts say
Social Sharing Ottawa officials are responding to three homicides committed in the past week, but say this is not necessarily indicative of a worrying trend. The three latest reports since March 30 brings to eight the number of homicides recorded in Ottawa this year. Charges have been laid in relation to six of them. "We share the community's concerns about the level of violence in our city," said a statement from the Ottawa Police Service released Friday. "Three lives have been senselessly lost, and families, friends, and loved ones are now grieving." The cases were unrelated, the statement said, and police do not believe there is a current risk to public safety. Despite this, Alta Vista Councillor and Ottawa Police Service Board Vice-Chair Marty Carr said she's heard from residents feeling afraid after the killings. "I understand why people are concerned," she said. "To say we shouldn't be worried, I can understand why people wouldn't accept that. "Three in a week is a lot. It's a lot for this community. It's a lot for the city that's considered to be one of the safest cities in Canada." While three homicides in one week is concerning, experts say it will take time before the numbers show a trend. Homicides in Ottawa reached a record high in 2024, with 25 people killed in 20 cases. Irvin Waller, a professor emeritus and criminologist with the University of Ottawa, says he's not more worried than usual just yet. "Is it consistent with the trend that we've been seeing in the last couple of years? We'll have to wait and see," he said. Waller said while it's not clear whether the number of homicides in the city will continue to increase, it is important that Ottawa rethinks its strategy for prevention. "[Police] react to crime and to homicides," he said. "The city council needs to invest smartly in the things that will reduce the risk of homicides taking place." The city dissolved its crime prevention taskforce, Crime Prevention Ottawa (CPO), in 2023. Instead, it incorporated its mandate into the provincially-mandated Community Safety and Well-Being Plan (CSWB). Both Carr and OPS have said it will take more than enforcement to reduce crime. In its statement, OPS said it is "committed to working with community partners to address the root causes of violence and build long-term solutions." For Carr, those long-term solutions include using the CSWB to build more community supports — including mental health resources, addictions counselling, and youth programming. According to Carr, drug addiction and mental illness were believed to be factors in at least one of the recent homicides.
