Summary

• Comox Valley Regional District and City of Port Hardy have each received a $100,000 grant to train new partners and build capacity for its Safe Community Situation Table
• Comox Valley Regional District situation table has been established since 2023, and the Port Hardy table since February 2024
• Situation tables are community-centred with front-line workers connecting vulnerable people with preventative supports

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The successful Safe Community Situation Tables in the Comox Valley and Port Hardy are building capacity to address complex social challenges by delivering quicker access to services for people at high risk of harm, victimization or committing crime to survive.

“Situation tables support safe communities, ensuring police and front-line responders can access improved services for people in crisis or at risk due to mental health, addiction, brain injuries or other complex needs,” said Nina Krieger, Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General. “Public safety challenges are best addressed through a collaborative, co-ordinated and community-based approach, and the situation tables in the Comox Valley and Port Hardy have demonstrated strong benefits for these communities.”

Investing in public safety

The Province is providing $100,000 to support training and capacity building, helping ensure the long-term success of the Comox Valley’s Safe Community Situation Table.

The Comox Valley table was launched in 2023, comprised of partners and agencies from the health, law enforcement, education, human services and non-profit sectors. The partners meet weekly or biweekly to collaborate on preventing risk and assisting people before a crisis and serious injury or incident occurs, and address issues pertaining to their community, such as mental health and addictions, homelessness, poverty, violent repeat offending and survival crime.

Outcomes of the situation table in 2025 include:

• Table members held 30 discussions.
• The most-common risk factors for clients included health, mental health, poverty and basic needs.
• About 52% of situation-table interventions led to a client’s risk being lowered.
• On average, clients had seven risk factors and six agencies involved per intervention. 

“Our community and the well-being of our residents is our top priority,” said Will Cole-Hamilton, board chair, Comox Valley Regional District. “This funding will support and strengthen the Comox Valley Situation Table to meet the needs of our most vulnerable population by continuing to enhance co-ordinated services and safety throughout the region.”

The Province is providing $100,000 to support training and capacity building, helping ensure the long-term success of Port Hardy’s Safe Community Situation Table.

Through ongoing collaboration with local partners, the table continues to proactively identify community members at risk and connect them with the right supports. Through this preventative approach, the table is reducing harm, closing service gaps and improving outcomes for people before a negative event occurs.

The Port Hardy table launched in February 2024 and is comprised of community partners and agencies from the health, law enforcement, education, human services and non-profit sectors. The partners meet weekly to address issues pertaining to their community, such as mental health and addictions, homelessness, poverty, violent repeat offending and survival crime.

“The Safe Community Situation Table is an important step forward in supporting vulnerable people in Port Hardy,” said Patricia Corbett-Labatt, mayor of Port Hardy. “By bringing local partners together, we can respond earlier and more effectively to complex challenges. I also recognize the Salvation Army for its leadership in co-ordinating this work. Their commitment, alongside our front-line partners, helps ensure people receive the care they need. Together, we are working to build a safer, healthier, connected community.”

Community-centred support

Safe Community Situation Tables provide a structured, collaborative approach to managing complex or urgent circumstances by bringing together key groups and using systematic processes to mitigate risk and develop action plans to respond more effectively and efficiently to the needs of each individual. Furthermore, aggregate data analysis helps policymakers assess gaps and risks in their local communities.

The situation tables are considered a best practice for improving community safety and well-being by enabling community front-line workers to:

• proactively identify risks through real-time information sharing
• reduce long-term demand on emergency and police resources
• leverage and co-ordinate existing community assets and relationships between health supports, victim services, and culturally safe support and services
• plan and deliver collaborative interventions before an incident occurs
• reduce increased risk in people’s lives

Quick Facts:

• In 2023, the Comox Valley Regional District received a $65,000 grant from the Province to implement a Safe Community Situation Table.
• In February 2024, the City of Port Hardy received a $60,000 grant from the Province to implement a Safe Community Situation Table.
• There are 56 funded situation tables and intervention circles in B.C.. Of these, 42 of these operational, while the other 14 are under implementation.
• Since 2018, more than $3.5 million has been provided to B.C. regions and communities to facilitate local situation tables, Indigenous intervention circles and other related initiatives.

Learn More:

For more information about Safe Community Situation Tables, visit: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/justice/criminal-justice/policing-in-bc/collaborative-public-safety-program/situation-tables

For more information about ways the Province is making communities safer for everyone, visit: https://gov.bc.ca/SafeCommuntities