Notice that August is following the summer trend and seeing a significant reduction in crime as compared to 2023 and 2022.
Making Progress in Some Challenging Times
Steering a large ship is often referred to in team meetings here at the office to convey our collective role in navigating the success of downtown Kingston. In some ways this past summer has felt like a smooth ride. Our events team rolled out lots of successful events. The marketing teams communication channels were jammed with information that was eaten up by our audiences. Welcoming Streets has been running smoothly, attending to the needs of the vulnerable in our community. And the new Foot Patrol Officer Pilot Program has made a huge difference in combating crime in the downtown core, as the stats above illustrate. That's progress!
We were sailing along at a good clip with a 15% rise in pedestrian counts in March as compared to the year before. Then the LaSalle Causeway broke down on April 1st. Staying with the ship analogy, this event was like a volcano popping up out of nowhere, forcing a major direction change for the entire community.
In light of the tragic incident at the Integrated Care Hub (ICH) on September 12th, our community has faced significant challenges. The loss of two lives has deeply impacted us all, and our thoughts are with those affected by this tragedy.
The closure of the ICH has felt like a roque wave in the downtown area, as many individuals who relied on the hub's services for mental health and addiction support now find themselves in need of alternative resources. This has resulted in an increased presence of vulnerable individuals in the downtown core.
The closure of the ICH has felt like a roque wave in the downtown area, as many individuals who relied on the hub's services for mental health and addiction support now find themselves in need of alternative resources. This has resulted in an increased presence of vulnerable individuals in the downtown core.
To-date the ICH, CTS and part of Belle Park continue to be closed to the public to proceed with work that will ensure more public safety. The area of Belle Park requires a significant clean and site remediation to address soil contamination on site. In the interim, the City and partners are continuing to offer services to people displaced within shelters and daytime drop ins. City notes that there is still capacity in all services as people are choosing not to access available services.
Recognizing that the situation is complex and multi-faceted, it is essential that we as a community approach these challenges with empathy while continuing to be diligent about ensuring that we offer a safe experience for our employees, visitors and residents.
Nothing has changed in terms of 'who to call'. Please refer to the information in the Welcoming Streets page, ensure the 'Who to Call' is hanging in an area where staff can reference it easily and see it multiple times daily. And finally: Report. Report. Report. We have multiple agencies supporting us in the downtown core that are available to address challenges that are more than you or your staff are equipped for. In order for the system to work and to collect critical data, it is important to use the services we have in place and to call or report to police when a crime has been committed.
If you have any questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to reach out to me. I am available by text or phone, 613-661-4661, or by email marijo@downtownkingston.ca.
Thanks for listening. Until next time,
Marijo 🐝
