Downtown Safety Leadership Table
The Downtown Safety Leadership Table brought together a group of downtown leaders to help identify ways to address safety in downtown Calgary.
In March 2024, they released 28 recommendations to support safety and vibrancy in Calgary’s downtown:
Download the Downtown Safety Leadership Table report
Download the summary of the Downtown Safety Leadership Table report
How we are delivering on the recommendations
We are pleased to say that work is already underway or will begin on all 28 recommendations and is expected to be completed within the timeline identified. Eight will need further resources or funding to implement. A review of how these recommendations should be funded has begun. The work is targeted to three key areas: great public spaces, wellbeing of people, and emergency response and enforcement.
View the full implementation plan
The following can be completed within one year and with no additional budget.
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Crime Prevention through Environmental Design studies
Indigenous Gathering Place
Scoping a Downtown Safety and Maintenance Team
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Rough sleeping response
24/7 deployment of outreach services
Affordable, supportive market housing
Support for grassroots and community-led groups
Advocacy for service hub models and shelter funding
Communications resource
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Police and uniform presence
Coordinated policing and enforcement services
Public spaces
Creating places where we can all feel safe and can enjoy ourselves as a community
Crime Prevention through Environmental Design studies
A crime prevention through environmental design (CPTED) implementation plan to ensure physical design principles are applied to improve real and perceived safety in public spaces.
Indigenous Gathering Place
Strong partnership on the Indigenous Gathering Place initiative and opportunities to experience Indigenous cultural programs hosted out of Indigenous structures at downtown festivals and events.
Scoping a Downtown Safety and Maintenance Team
Continued investments in downtown cleaning and safety to ensure residents and visitors feel safe.
People
Safety begins with the wellbeing of all Calgarians
Rough sleeping response
City-wide improvements to how unsanctioned structures are identified and addressed with a focus on connecting individuals with resources and improving coordination, tracking and accountability.
24/7 deployment of outreach services
More effective coordination between government and community outreach partners leads to improved service delivery to individuals experiencing vulnerabilities and safer communities.
Affordable, supportive market housing
Progress on Home is Here – The City’s Housing Strategy and support for the housing sector to deliver services to those needing housing.
Support for grassroots and community-led groups
Continued funding for non-profit and grassroots organizations and ongoing advocacy to other orders of government for increased funding to sustain and expand services.
Advocacy for service hub models and shelter funding
Advocacy to other orders of government to ensure mental health, addiction, and health services, as well as housing options, are available to Calgarians accessing or leaving shelters.
Communications resource
More frequent communications and data regarding downtown safety investments and initiatives from one publicly accessible source by Q1 2025.
Emergency response and enforcement
Addressing crime and safety concerns immediately is critical
Police and uniform presence
A district front counter in the downtown accessible to the public; continued investment in the Safety Hub model allows uniformed officers to work collaboratively from centralized locations in areas with high calls for service.
Coordinated policing and enforcement services
A reduction in social disorder resulting from a more streamlined, efficient, and coordinated deployment of policing, enforcement and social services in the downtown.