27952 replies to this topic

[Blair M.]

How many of them are on shift during a shift? 1 or 2?

The math implies that you need a total of 5 employees to cover 24/7.

But that doesn't cover holidays, sick days, stats, etc - so at least 6 employees to cover most of what's required. 

 

That results in only a single officer on duty for each 8 hour shift.

 

Seems pretty light staffing for a few hundred square kilometres, much of it occupied - and what isn't occupied is heavily transited?

[Mike K.]

Perhaps my question was not clear. What I mean is, there are six provincially funded Sooke cops, and 14 municipally funded.

My inclination is that the province is under-funding its commitment of cops based on the population and massive expanse of the detachment zone. I ask this, because the majority of high profile crimes in “Sooke” do not occur in Sooke-proper, but in unincorporated areas that Sooke taxpayers should not be responsible for. The detachment’s OIC is asking Sooke taxpayers for more funding to hire more cops but has not disclosed the resource ratio of crime in Sooke-proper and crime where the province is responsible for funding cops.

[Victoria Watcher]

On April 30, 2025 the Homelessness Services Association of BC (HSABC) conducted a 24-hour Point-in-Time count, which identified 174 people who were experiencing homelessness in Campbell River. Of those 174 people, 125 – or 72 per cent – were “unsheltered”, which HSABC describes as “staying outside in alleys, doorways, parkades, parks and vehicles or staying temporarily at someone else’s place”. Fifty-eight per cent of the 174 respondents identified as Indigenous, according to HSABC.

Read more at: https://vicnews.com/...r-the-homeless/


HSABC states that: “Disproportionate rates of homelessness are rooted in the ongoing structural violence of settler colonial society that creates hierarchical systems of privilege and oppression. Indigenous people in Canada face racism, discrimination, and the impacts of intergenerational trauma which can limit safe and equitable access to services making it easier to lose, and harder to acquire, safe and stable housing.”

Neither Kwesa Place nor Hem’?aelas Kitchen have been successful in their search for a new location. Wilson says new city zoning bylaws – and resistance from landlords – are making it a real challenge. “It’s so hard when you get told, ‘We don’t want your type of service in our buildings’. It’s very disappointing. I thought we were passed that. They are people too. That’s what people seem to forget,” said Wilson.

Meanwhile at Berwick’s senior living complex in Campbell River, studio suites start at $3,400 a month for 329 to 470 square feet, and one-bedroom units go for $4,250.

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 22 December 2025 - 05:54 AM.

[Victoria Watcher]

While December is synonymous with cheer, joy, family, and happiness, for others, it tells a completely different story.

As rain poured down over Victoria on the afternoon of Dec. 21, a small group gathered in front of Pandora’s Our Place Society to commemorate the lives of unhoused people, which they said often go unnoticed.

Shortly before the group embarked on their trek down Pandora to the Whale Wall at 4 p.m., where the silent candlelit vigil was held, organizer Bruce Livingstone explained the event’s origin in the ‘90s.

Read more at: https://vicnews.com/...homeless-lives/





Commemorate what? 99% of these people are a waste of skin. We should celebrate their deaths. And bemoan all the taxpayer money we gave them.

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 22 December 2025 - 11:52 AM.

[Victoria Watcher]

I’m here all week.

[lanforod]

I hope you're alone at your celebration of their deaths. C'mon man. That's in poor taste; who are ya, Trump?

Edited by lanforod, 22 December 2025 - 01:52 PM.

[LJ]

HSABC states that: “Disproportionate rates of homelessness are rooted in the ongoing structural violence of settler colonial society that creates hierarchical systems of privilege and oppression.

 

Haven't got the message that woke is dead, apparently.

[Benezet]

…
Commemorate what? 99% of these people are a waste of skin. We should celebrate their deaths. And bemoan all the taxpayer money we gave them.

In the words of Daffy Duck, you’re despicable.

[Victoria Watcher]

Firefighters say they face increasing rates of violence while on duty

 

HALIFAX — Firefighters say they are facing increasing levels of violence on duty, and they’re asking the federal government to step up legislation.

https://www.theremin...n-duty-11654850

 

 

 

 

Oh, that's awful you say, these guys are trying hard to fight fires, but instead are attacked!  Then of course you read it's all the usual suspects.

 

 

 

 

 

"We had a Toronto firefighter bitten by a patient,” Kelly said in an interview last month. “In Winnipeg, we’ve seen a severe rise; we’ve had 58 reported incidents in Winnipeg this year alone.”

 

[...]

 

Quillian said the unhoused population in Moncton has grown larger in recent years, and several people have found shelter in wooded areas around the city.

“Sometimes we’re going into the woods for a bonfire complaint or a sighting of smoke, and we’ll startle them. They can get verbally aggressive with us. And when we’re out on these calls we do notice that they have weapons to protect themselves,” Quillian said.

 

Quillian said violent incidents are common during medical calls as well, especially in overdose situations. “When we wake the patient up, they can be verbally or physically aggressive towards us.”

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 23 December 2025 - 02:13 AM.

[Victoria Watcher]

https://x.com/WallSt...615185954201693

 

 

It's $1.3B, but she has the right point.

 

Let's say you give each LA homeless person $24,000 - $2,000 per month - you could support 55,000 people. 

 

 

AI:

 

 

Unsheltered homelessness (people living on the streets, in tents, vehicles, makeshift shelters, or other places not meant for habitation—often referred to as "sleeping rough") in Los Angeles County was estimated at approximately 47,450 people according to the finalized 2025 Greater Los Angeles Homeless Count by LAHSA (after a minor HUD-reviewed adjustment in October 2025).This represents about 66% of the total homeless population (72,195 countywide), with a 9.5% decline in unsheltered homelessness from 2024.For the City of Los Angeles specifically, unsheltered homelessness was around 26,972 people (about 62% of the city's total of 43,695).

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 23 December 2025 - 07:03 AM.

[Mike K.]

Her awakening is something else.

Her former co-host must just be acting at this point to keep the money coming in.

[Victoria Watcher]

A forecast of near-freezing temperatures and gusty winds for Friday night prompted authorities to open three emergency weather shelters for those sleeping rough in the capital region.

 

The District of Saanich said 20 spaces would be available in the lower hall of the Broadview United Church at 3703 Aidan’s St. Staff from Our Place, along with church volunteers, will be on hand to provide support for those without shelter for the night.

 

The Saanich church is a new emergency weather shelter this winter. Previously, the only option in the region’s core was the 30-mat emergency shelter at the Salvation Army location on Johnson Street in downtown Victoria. That shelter was also open Friday night.

 

Farther west, Sooke Shelter Society’s six-mat emergency weather shelter was to open for the third night in the row.

 

 

https://www.timescol...s-fall-11671954

[Victoria Watcher]

Broadview United Church at 3703 St. Aidan’s St. is opening up for the second night in a row after recently being approved to operate as an EWR shelter. Rev. Mark Green says the space will fit up to 20 people and is pet-friendly.

 

Sleeping mats, blankets, clothes, toiletries, food and warm drinks will be available.

 

“We knew there was a need for this, so we renovated with some of those outreach concerns in mind,” said Green.

 

Green went through various renovations to get the approval as an EWR, and although no one has stayed overnight at the church, he believes that the criteria set for EWRs to be activated should be reviewed.

 

“During the atmospheric river, it didn’t meet the criteria, and we were actually quite sad and disappointed that we weren’t able to be opened, to offer space for folks.

 

This year, the Town of Sidney voted against opening an EWR shelter at a seniors independent living home, but some councillors have made recent comments that they are determined to have a shelter in Sidney by winter 2026.

 

Green says he’s gotten inquiries on the shelter from other churches across Vancouver Island and wants more communities to implement them.

 

“This is a shared responsibility,” said Green.

 

In Victoria, the city says that it had an overflow of people seeking shelter on Friday night, but did not turn anyone away.

 

The Salvation Army at 525 Johnson St. will have 30 extra mats, but in anticipation of more people seeking help, the city is opening an overnight warming tent and bus at 1161 Quadra St. A social media post says there will be hot food and drinks available.

 

Warming kits will also be handed out by Victoria firefighters. The kits come with a sleeping bag, hat, gloves, and other items to stay warm.

 

The Victoria Fire Department tells CHEK news that it will be conducting wellness checks and offering the kits, taxi vouchers to nearby warming centres or help accessing other services.

 

A staff member from the Sooke Shelter Society tells CHEK News that it was not at capacity last night and will be open again Saturday night. The EWR has six mats but will have some extra cots in case there’s a greater need.

 

 

 

https://cheknews.ca/...g-kits-1296779/

 

 

Edited by Victoria Watcher, Yesterday, 03:10 AM.