Safety hub opens in downtown Calgary to increase police visibility

CALGARY — There’s a new safety hub in the heart of Calgary’s downtown core, aimed at helping people feel more protected when they head to the area at any hour of the day.

Unveiled on Thursday, the Stephen Avenue Safety Hub is a collection point for police, peace officers, and bylaw officers so they can share information and resources, or stock up on supplies like masks.

This is also not a new police station, despite calls from some to restore a district office in the core following the closure of the Victoria Park station several years ago.

“Over the past few years, we have been open to the conversation of a police facility returning to the core. However, the costs have been prohibitive, and it had not been part of our strategic facility planning given other pressures. As a result, there had not been a feasible option for immediate consideration until we were presented with this generous opportunity,” said Insp. Clare Smart. “This facility will open doors to new possibilities, stronger partnerships and more community engagement.”

The space, located at 2 St. and 8 Ave., has been donated rent-free for one year as part of a pilot project to help evaluate how the city and the police can enhance the perception of safety in the area, while also building more relationships with agencies and outreach groups such as the DOAP Team.

Along with increasing the number of officers you may see in the area — leading to them spotting or preventing any incidents — it is also being billed as one of the ways the Calgary police are looking to reform its service.

“Policing is about relationships, and I think in the last 18 months we’ve witnessed that more than ever,” said Chief Constable Mark Neufeld. “One of the places where we have found we can probably improve is the relationships and the interplay between all of the uniformed services and the services that serve the community.”

Neufeld said this can lead to more collaboration between all the groups, which can help determine whether or not police are needed for certain situations. He said this will have a specific focus on helping marginalized people in the core.

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“That’s the whole idea, to get certainly our officers working with the officers from other uniformed services, out of Ramsay. Even though it’s not far, it’s too far, and closing the gap between the folks who want to interact with their police and partners and making sure they have access and they’re seeing uniforms and they’re seeing the ambassadors.”

Looking at some of the other services included under the same roof, it can boost capabilities for peace and bylaw officers.

“Safety in Calgary’s downtown has always been a top priority for The City, whether during busy and vibrant times or through a crisis like the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Chief Bylaw Officer Ryan Pleckaitis. “The Stephen Avenue Safety Hub supports this priority by increasing presence of uniformed officers, providing an enhanced sense of safety and security for citizens and business in the area which contributes to the vibrancy of the downtown core.”

“This space will allow Transit officers to have a dedicated site in an area with high volumes of customer-reported concerns,” said Chief Safety Officer Sam Hope with Calgary Transit. “This location is within a few blocks of three downtown CTrain stations and allows our officers to respond to concerns quickly and help Transit customers feel safe and comfortable at these stations.”

Finally, with the concern from local businesses also being among a top priority here, there’s hope that it will be easier for them to relay concerns and authorities can build better relationships with the business owners so they have a finger on the pulse of what is really happening in the community so they can better respond to any needs.

“Safety and security for business, residents and visitors to downtown are a top priority for the Calgary Downtown Association as we prepare for gradual phases of reopening post-pandemic. This Hub is an important part of our work to ensure downtown is recognized as a safe, inclusive and vibrant place for all. We’re very proud to be a partner in this innovative collaborative effort to make downtown safety a priority,” said Jennifer Rempel, GM of the Calgary Downtown Association.

This is not a full-fledged police station so that means people cannot report any incidents at the safety hub and instead you will still have to contact the police or 311, or physically go to a police district officer, to do so.