TOWN OF VIEW ROYAL PROTECTIVE SERVICES COMMITTEE REPORT - PUBLICSAFETY REPORT FOR NOVEMBER – DECEMBER 2024
Operational update from the Director of Protective Services covering fire prevention, training, and 2024 bylaw enforcement statistics.
TOWN OF VIEW ROYAL PROTECTIVE SERVICES COMMITTEE REPORT
TO: Committee of the Whole DATE: January 7, 2025 FROM: Paul Hurst, Director of Protective Services MEETING DATE: January 14, 2025
PUBLICSAFETY REPORT FOR NOVEMBER – DECEMBER 2024
RECOMMENDATION:
THAT the Committee receives this report for information.
PURPOSE:
To update the Committee on the operations of the Protective Services Department.
DISCUSSION:
Fire Prevention Inspection & Public Education:
- 2024 Inspection year observed 100% completion of inspections
- Reportable Fire – Island Highway (Residential Structure Fire) – discarded smokers’ material
- Fire Safety Act (2024) report supplied for Council Resolution
- Firehall Tour for Bloom Montessori School December 18th, 60 students (2 groups of 30)
- Annual Santa Food Drive observed an extremely successful food drive for the Goldstream Food Bank
Geoff Pitre, Fire Prevention Officer
Training Division:
- Two Members completed Emergency Scene Management II
- Two Members completed Critical Incident Stress Management
- Three Members completed Emergency Scene Management I
- One Member completed Fire & Life Safety Educator
- One Member completed Fire Service Administration II
- One Member completed Front Line Leadership II
- Members working on completing on-line Fire Smart 101 certificates
- Nightly on-shift training continues
- Low number due to December availability of staff.
- 24 Members with family and ESS participated in VRFD annual Santa Drive Around, collecting over $7200 and a trailer full of food. Donated to Westshore Food Bank.
Heath Bevan, Training Officer
Emergency Program:
The following are the most noteworthy activities and events for the Emergency Program this reporting period:
- Public education planning meeting
- Regional and local Indigenous Engagement Requirement (IER) Working Group meetings X 4
- REPAC meeting VGH
- EP Fair Meeting
- One public education workshop
- Nuclear Emergency Response exercise “Pacific Integration” planning meetings X 6
- Meet w/ Esquimalt Nation Band administrator re: IER funding activities
- EOC maintenance and IT capability upgrade in Council chambers
- Volunteer recruiting campaign
- Wildfire Exercise Planning
- ESS Grant purchasing
- View Royal Colwood Emergency Program Volunteer Recognition Dinner. The following volunteers were recognized for their years of Service and presented their BC Public Safety Lifeline Volunteer awards:
- ESS: Deb Rayne - 5yrs, Judith Estrin – 5yrs, Fred Jones – 15yrs, Marge Emery - 25 yrs.
- Radio: Ernie Groenewold – 5 years, Bob Bartlett – 5yrs, Rob Scrimgeour – 5yrs, Ed McCarthy - 10yrs, Jack Dennet – 10 yrs.
- Ed Mcarthy (Radio) and David Mollison (ESS) were both recognized for their tenure in leadership roles and presented appreciation awards.
Emergency Program Training:
- Exercise Pacific Integration – Esquimalt EOC and Colwood EOC (8 Staff and 20 Volunteers)
- Evacuations, ESS operations and Emergency Communications - (7 staff)
- Shakeout EOC Exercise – 34 staff, FF and Volunteers
- Exercise Controller/Evaluator training w/ Calian – EM Officer
- Westshore Alert Training (2 staff)
Emergency Support Services:
The ESS team remained busy for this reporting period with 3 callouts for service to our residents. Current number of volunteers on our active list are 29, with approximately 12-14 that participate regularly. Two ESS volunteers continue to work at EMCR in the Provincial ESS Call Centre, answering calls from evacuees, ESS Responders, and Suppliers throughout the province. Activities were as follows:
Level 1 CALL OUTS:
| Date | Description | # Volunteers | # Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 8th | Level 1 call out. 24-7658 - Colwood. Supports for one family food and lodging. | 2 | 5 |
| Dec 13th | Level 1 Call Out 24-8677 - Colwood – 2 adults and 2 kids supported | 2 | 5 |
| Dec 31st | Level 1 Call out 24- 9293 - A family of 9 supported hotel, clothing, food (3 rooms needed) | 2 | 6 |
MEETINGS/Prep for meeting:
| Date | Description | # Volunteers | # Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 2nd | ESS Volunteer Information Session @ View Royal Fire Hall | 2 | 3 |
| Nov 5th | Met with Colwood Church about space for Reception Centre Exercise on Dec 3 (DND) | 1 | 1 |
| Nov 6th | Met with Esquimalt EP/D prepare for DND exercise Dec 2 & 3 | 1 | 2 |
| Nov 6th | Met with supplier to renew Supplier Agreement | 1 | .5 |
| Nov 7th | Finalize arrangements for Colwood Church | 1 | 1 |
| Nov 14th | ESS monthly Leadership meeting | 3 | 5 |
| Nov 22nd | Exercise meeting (Esquimalt/DND) | 5 | 10 |
| Nov 27th | ESS monthly team meeting at Colwood Fire Hall – Recognition Dinner for ESS and Radio Comms. | 18 | 54 |
| Dec 2nd | Exercise briefing via MS Teams | 1 | .5 |
Activities/ Training:
| Date | Description | # Volunteers | # Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 18th | View Royal- ESS & Radio Comms – Volunteer Recruitment | 2 | 4 |
| Nov 28th | ESS Directors meeting – further prep for Esquimalt DND exercise | 1 | 3 |
| Nov 30th | Move Supplies for Reception Centre Exercise from Sr Centre C Can to Colwood Trailer. | 3 | 3 |
| Dec 3rd | Esquimalt/DND Exercise- Open Reception Centre (7 hrs) | 9 | 63 |
| Dec 7th | View Royal -Emergency Kit Presentation | 2 | 4 |
| Dec 11th | View Royal- Drop ESS Van off for Christmas Deliveries/Santa | 1 | .5 |
PROJECTS:
| Project | Status |
|---|---|
| Updating Supplier information including the new ERA tool info. Continue to visit our Suppliers to update agreements. | Ongoing |
| Working through all our available RC/GL sites and update contact information Quick Start Bins. | Ongoing |
| Colwood ESS Trailer - Sort through and update forms and supplies. New shelving going in. | Early January, evening |
| Updating our city/town website for a greater ESS presence. | New |
| Updating /streamlining Orientation -done, additions of maps, org charts, supplier info. Will be working on this in January 2025. | 75% complete |
Emergency Radio Communications Team:
The radio team had a busy year as the unification of the Colwood and View Royals teams took shape under the steadfast leadership of Ed McCarthy. With the two teams fully integrated and Station Managers in place, Ed has elected to step back from his role as Emergency Radio Coordinator (ERC) as of Dec 31st, 2024, however he will stay on as an operator. The three station managers, George Ghanem, Brent Besse and Jack Dennet will absorb the duties of the ERC as a committee, until a decision is made on a replacement for Ed.
The monthly report for the View Royal/Colwood Emergency Radio Communications volunteer activities is as follows.
- ESS and Radio Volunteer information session
- Weekly net
- Tower maintenance
- Radio maintenance
- Team Meetings
- VR EM Trailer maintenance
- Packet training
- Nuclear Ex and exercise meetings
- Pacific Cup
- Stats and administration (2025 scheduling)
Total volunteer hours volunteered during reporting period: 179.62
2024 stats for total radio contacts.
| Stat | Count |
|---|---|
| Total Contacts Made | 1251 |
| Total Data Contacts | 587 |
| Total VHF Contacts | 565 |
| Total UHF Contacts | 68 |
| Total HF Contacts | 15 |
Troy Mollin, Emergency Management Officer Pam Rivers, Emergency Support Services Director Ed McCarthy, Emergency Radio Coordinator
Bylaw Division:
The year 2024 was a transformative one for the Town of View Royal, marked by significant strides in community problem-solving and strengthened collaboration within the Bylaw department. The focus was on navigating complex public interactions, managing sensitive files, and fostering meaningful partnerships—all aimed at achieving our core goal of improving public service and internal relationships. In 2024 bylaw received 684 files, and only 11 of these investigations will remain open into 2025. Bylaw also issued 80 MTIs.
The 80 MTIs issued totaled $7075 of that $2450 has been paid. Due to the Canada Post strike, Bylaw was unable to process outstanding MTIs through the usual channels, resulting in more unpaid tickets than usual by year-end. Payment hearings are not being considered for the outstanding MTIs, as most are under $100. That said, we exhaust all efforts, short of going to court, to collect the outstanding amounts.
| Nov/Dec Activity | Number of Warnings Nov | Number of Warnings Dec | Number of Tickets Issued Nov | Number of Tickets Issued Dec | Tickets Paid Nov | Tickets Paid Dec | Total Nov/Dec 2024 Total | Prev. YDT | 2024 Total | 2023 Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admin* | 1 | 1 | 2 | 7 | 9 | 12 | ||||
| Animal Control | 1 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 27 | |||||
| Assist Other Agencies/Dept* | 2 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 23 | |||||
| Building | 1 | 1 | 9 | 10 | 5 | |||||
| Burning | 1 | |||||||||
| Business License - Inspected | 15 | 15 | 16 | |||||||
| Dumping | 1 | |||||||||
| Election Signs | 4 | 4 | 1 | |||||||
| Fire Bylaw | 1 | 1 | 2 | |||||||
| Fireworks | 1 | |||||||||
| Garbage | 1 | |||||||||
| Graffiti | 39 | |||||||||
| Noise | 4 | 2 | 6 | 45 | 51 | 36 | ||||
| Parks & Public | 1 | 5 | 6 | 48 | 54 | 73 | ||||
| Recommendation* | 3 | 3 | 1 | |||||||
| Referred to Other Agencies* | 2 | 8 | 10 | 35 | 45 | 78 | ||||
| Referred to Other Dept* | 2 | 3 | 5 | 47 | 52 | 71 | ||||
| Secondary Suite | 2 | 2 | 5 | |||||||
| Signs | 5 | 1 | 6 | 9 | 15 | 50 | ||||
| Soil | ||||||||||
| Storm Drain | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | |||||
| Streets | 28 | 33 | 13 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 79 | 387 | 466 | 408 |
| Tree Prevention | 1 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 18 | ||||
| Truck Route | 1 | 1 | 3 | |||||||
| Unsightly Premise | 1 | 1 | 15 | 16 | 13 | |||||
| Vacation Rental | 1 | |||||||||
| Zoning | 4 | 5 | 9 | 50 | 59 | 73 | ||||
| Freedom of Information Requests | 5 | 5 | 1 | |||||||
| Total | 570 | 684 | 800 |
*not included in total file count
Zones
Below is a map of the bylaw zones and the number of calls for service in those areas for 2024. This map represents what areas the Bylaw officer attended calls. As last year the View Royal, Watkiss and Six Mile zones were the most attended.
Public Engagement Challenges
Navigating the myriads of impassioned complaints requires a visionary perspective to ensure responsive and professional due diligence is consistently upheld. Engaging with the public brought diverse challenges that demanded careful attention to nuance and detail. The Bylaw Department took a proactive approach to define its communication strategies, with a strong focus on fostering transparent and inclusive dialogue. Addressing concerns effectively and building community understanding were pivotal in managing the complexities of public sentiment across a broad spectrum of issues.
Interdepartmental Collaboration on Sensitive Files:
Effective collaboration with various Town departments was crucial, especially in handling sensitive files like encampment remediation and resolving heated disputes between neighbors. Understanding the need for a unified approach, the Bylaw department worked to ensure vital information was shared efficiently. There are currently eight complex files that are being worked on.
Relationship Development with External Entities: Appendix 1
Fostering strong relationships with external stakeholders like the Island Railway Corridor, the Ministry of Transportation and Highways, and the Capital Regional District remains a significant achievement. These partnerships, along with many others, are pivotal in shaping a comprehensive approach to challenges such as encampment remediation, noise mitigation, and parking complexities. By aligning shared goals and resources, we’ve achieved a more effective response. Bylaw continues to make strides in unifying objectives with other stakeholders, harmonizing efforts, and enhancing both efficiency and effectiveness.
Transition to SharePoint Reporting Format
2024 saw the transition to a new reporting format using SharePoint. The benefits have included a significantly improved efficiency in data management and reporting. This streamlined platform has enhanced communication and coordination among departments, boosting the Town's overall capacity to address a broad spectrum of issues promptly and effectively
Appendix 1
Organizations/Agencies Bylaw Works With
- CRD:
- Animal Control
- Bylaw
- Parks and Trail Operations
- Park Rangers
- Ministry of Transportation and Transit (MOTT)
- Island Corridor Foundation (ICF)
- Ministry of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation
- 180 Hallowell
- Saanich Bylaw:
- Abandoned boats
- Helmcken construction sites (3 locations)
- Colwood Bylaw:
- Wilfert Road encampments
- RCMP:
- Encampments
- Langford Bylaw
- BC Housing:
- Support for people experiencing homelessness
- ICB:
- Registered owner information
- Westshore Towing:
- Towing services
- Vancouver Island Health Authority (VIHA):
- Clean Air Bylaw
- Victoria Contracting:
- Boulevard clean-up
- Esquimalt Harbour Management Authority:
- Richards Island clean-up
- Ministry of Environment & Climate Change Strategy:
- Air quality complaints
- Oil leaks and oil bin overflow
Town of View Royal - Animal Control Summary
Brad Cameron, Bylaw Enforcement Officer
CONCURRENCE: Chief Administrative Officer
REVIEWED BY: Director of Protective Services
Document Images
(2)
