City of Brandon Seeks Residents Input For Community Safety And Well-Being Plan

The City of Brandon is excited to announce the launch of a community survey aimed at understanding residents’ perceptions of safety and well-being. This survey is a key part of developing Brandon’s Community Safety and Well-Being (CSWB) Plan, funded from the Province of Manitoba’s Department of Justice and in collaboration with the Canadian Centre for Safer Communities.

As part of this initiative, multiple public consultation measures will be undertaken, starting with the current survey, and then expanding to focus groups and other forms of engagement. To enhance community safety and well-being for Brandon’s residents, we need a comprehensive strategy that addresses issues such as poverty, inequality, mental health, substance use, and homelessness.

This initiative seeks to identify safety concerns within the community and develop a systematic plan to implement long-term, preventative solutions that address the underlying causes of these safety and well-being challenges. It also seeks to understand current views on community safety and well-being in Brandon, while also drawing insights from residents’ lived experiences. Our approach involves evaluating existing successful measures in Brandon, identifying obstacles, and recognizing unmet community needs.

Conducting community surveys, engaging with the public, and gathering and analyzing data are all crucial elements of this rigorous process. We are committed to crafting a plan that is developed by our community for the benefit of our community.

To participate in the survey, please visit surveymonkey.com/r/BMVJYYZ or request a paper copy by contacting cswbplan@brandon.ca. Survey responses are accepted until October 31, 2024.

“Creating a plan together, with community involvement, significantly increases our likelihood of effectively tackling the unique challenges we face,” said Shannon Saltarelli, the Community Housing & Wellness Coordinator for the City of Brandon. “In addition to this survey, we are actively seeking ways to engage with every member of the community. Our aim is that everyone will feel encouraged to convey their stories to us, allowing us to develop a comprehensive plan.”

For more information about this project, visit brandon.ca/community-safety-and-well-being-plan.