What is Being Done for You
Increased Police Presence
Victoria City Police has reinforced the Downtown as one of its top priorities. Uniformed officers are working together with undercover officers to curtail illegal activities occurring both night and day within the Downtown. Police on foot and on bikes are a greater visible presence.
Police Volunteers
The Victoria Police Crime Watch Volunteers carry out a wide range of Crime Prevention programs and police support services. They walk Downtown streets from Monday to Saturday for a minimum of four hours, in their readily recognizable red jackets. They observe activity in the Downtown core in a non-enforcement capacity, calling police if necessary, and help to identify changes that might influence the appeal of our Downtown. These volunteers have already been hard at work to survey business owners within some parts of the Downtown about the issues on their blocks, offering the services of Reserve Constables in conducting security audits and, providing information about the Clean & Safe: Block by Block Program.
A Cleaner Downtown
The City of Victoria's Engineering Department provides twice-daily cleaning of Downtown streets and sidewalks, as well as twice-daily pick-ups at garbage receptacles. Each Spring, the department pressure washes sidewalks throughout the Downtown. While they are doing this, the DVBA Clean Team washes windows, doorways, and recesses of buildings. This yearly initiative removes accumulated grime in public and private spaces and provides individual property and business owners with the perfect platform for keeping space in front of and around their premises clean and attractive.
The DVBA's Clean Team compliments the City's efforts in keeping our Downtown clean. The Team is comprised of challenged and/or marginalized people, primarily hired through Cool Aid's Community Casual Labour Pool. There are currently 9 full-time members, and two part-time members. The Clean Team is on duty from 7 a.m. until 6:30 p.m. every weekday and will be extending its hours during summer months.
Graffiti Removal
The Clean Team is now reinforcing the long-standing efforts of City staff to identify and remove graffiti in public and private areas. If you have graffiti which is in need of removal please call either of the following numbers:
| Graffiti on public property |
361-0466 |
| Graffiti on private property |
call building owner or DVBA Clean Team at 386-2238 |
If the Clean Team is unable to remove the graffiti using their chemicals, they will offer alternative graffiti removal options - including providing the free labour to paint over the tag if your business/property provides the paint.
Needle Pickup
As part of the services provided by the DVBA Clean Team, downtown business and property owners are invited to call the DVBA office at 386-2238 if there is drug paraphernalia on your property that needs to be picked up and safely disposed of. This service is provided free of charge.
Opportunities for the Marginalized
Downtown Social Service Providers, in co-operation with the DVBA, City of Victoria, and City Police are working to improve the opportunities for some of the marginalized people in our Downtown. If you would like to provide employment opportunities for these individuals, please contact Cool Aid's Community Casual Labour Pool at 388-9296 or AIDS Vancouver Island - Positive Wellness Program at 384-2366.
Co-ordinating Your Participation
The DVBA will be working to keep all Downtown stakeholders apprised of progress on the Clean & Safe: Block by Block initiative through our newsletter, Downtown Dialogue, or via direct e-mail. We will be encouraging you to be part of the larger team that is working to provide a solution to our Downtown street issues.
