The next decade will allow each of us to inspire each other to create positive change in our cities. There are so many important issues to tackle we can’t expect our various levels of government or our police services to solve it alone. Authentic collaboration will be required, and we must challenge ourselves and those we know to step out of our comfort zones. While Canada is still considered a very safe country we can’t be complacent!
Johnson Street Bridge, Victoria, BC
With so much polarization and fear in the world – it’s time to embrace all the good work that’s being done by so many. We talk a lot about self-care, and that’s terrific, but is it enough? We need Community Care to Thrive! Exploring all the possibilities and sifting through what works and what doesn’t is not a simple task! Some cities are in crisis, higher crime rates, addictions, homelessness and mental health concerns have become common place. In some cases, this has reached tragic proportions. We can all make a difference and we must do our best to try harder – it’s time!
While we can’t deny there are Messy Cities amongst us there are ways to channel our ideas, share our resources and bridge existing gaps. I had the honour of working closely with several incredible leaders last year, Amanda Ng, a Health Planner with our Capital Regional District and Jade Yia, a Built Environment Consultant with Island Health. A 1-day workshop on Creating Healthy and Safe Communities was planned for last fall and was a great success: See the Final Report!
While the connection to health and our built environment is key, there are other promising initiatives that should also be carefully considered. There is no question that Arts and Culture play an important role in every city around the globe. The outcomes from successful projects are evident everywhere, you only need to look around. We love the fact that these success stories can touch and connect people in the public realm and do so beyond our wildest expectations. We recently partnered with the Greater Victoria Placemaking Network and the City of Victoria and planned two special events last summer and fall.
Sofa Surprise
Sofa Surprise brought people together and encouraged them to enjoy some unlikely spaces in beautiful, Victoria, BC. We met some fantastic people and had some incredible fun. You can see some of these initiatives by visiting our new YouTube Channel. Keep your eyes on Nanaimo too, I had the pleasure of meeting two incredible change makers there last year. Check out Humanity in Art.
So what are you waiting for? Let’s make a difference together.
Photo Credits
Photos by Steve Woolrich – All Rights Reserved
First published at Rethink Urban
Guest Author Bio
Steve Woolrich
Steve Woolrich is an award-winning Crime Prevention and Built Environment Practitioner. He is passionate about creating safe and healthy communities and has always considered himself a ‘boots on the ground’ consultant.
Steve’s background is extremely diverse and after graduating from Justice Administration at Mount Royal University and majoring in Police Science he has worked closely with many communities and police services throughout Canada. He is a certified Crime Prevention through Environmental Design specialist, and was a co-founder and the Vice President of CPTED Canada. Steve utilized this methodology and other best practices in many roles throughout his career, including corporate security and asset protection.
Steve is proud to have worked closely with the Alberta Government and was part of their provincial Gang Reduction Network, working as the Central Alberta lead. It was during this time he became a trained Circle Facilitator and continues to use this process to engage with communities, and with youth.
Steve founded the largest Community Safety and Well-Being collaborative in Canada – known as the Safer Communities Collaborative (formerly Rethink Urban). He co-created a Full SPECTRUM approach to Community Safety and Well-Being, fusing best practices such as CPTED, Placemaking and BC’s Healthy Built Environment Toolkit to address a wide range of built environment challenges in both rural and urban communities.
Steve was the recipient of the 2023 Public Health Association of BC’s Award of Merit for his work in communities throughout BC. He is semi-retired and lives off-grid on Galiano Island in beautiful British Columbia, Canada. He enjoys hiking, archery, and writing, and is currently compiling a book highlighting four decades of work in various roles and his passion for the built environment.
Recent Guest Author Articles:
- The Feeling That You’re Meant to Contribute to Something Much Bigger
- How Artificial Intelligence Is Reshaping Every Stage of Learning
- Retreating To Nature In A Quest For Knowledge
- Eggs, Rice, Resentment and a Night of Divorce
- Getting Started with Peryagame Online on GameZone: Easy Beginner Tips
Please Share Your Thoughts - Leave A Comment!