Calls for a safer downtown Edmonton as businesses, community leaders meet to discuss ways to improve safety, vibrancy

Downtown safety is a major topic on the agenda at the Downtown Safety and Vibrancy Summit in Edmonton on Tuesday.

The event brought residents, business owners, and non-profit organizations together to discuss ways to improve safety in the downtown core.

“Walking, all the things that I used to enjoy about downtown a person can’t do anymore,” said Candice, who works downtown.

Candice has been working downtown for her entire career. She says she no longer feels safe walking downtown on her own.

“I don’t feel safe anymore. No and I used to live downtown. I used to walk to work downtown, but definitely post our covid years, no. Even during the day I don’t walk alone ever.”

That’s exactly why the Downtown Business Association of Edmonton is meeting. To highlight the significance of finding solutions to issues like lack of security, affordable housing, and drug use.

“We try to be there to be proactive support when law enforcement isn’t there because hearing we have issues of break-ins. There’s issues of open drug use on the streets, which really makes people feel unsafe,” said Puneeta McBryan, with the Downtown Business Association of Edmonton

McBryan says her organization patrols downtown streets overnight seven days a week through the Downtown Core Patrol Service, but she says more has to be done.

“We’d love to be able to run that program during the day, but right now there’s no funding for that. So we’re having lots of conversations with the city about that and hopefully the province,” said McBryan.

Community leaders also see issues with the sometimes lacking support in Edmonton’s social services sector.

“They should have safe spaces to go to during the day if they’re suffering from a mental illness or they’re struggling with housing. What’s that look like to feel that sense of belonging to something larger than themselves?” said Deann Hunter, the CEO of Encompass Community Safety Agency.

Lisa Baroldi, the President & CEO of the Building Owners and Managers Association, added, “Government returns to office, we do a lot to bring more vibrancy to our downtown core immediately, we need to make sure people have places to go to so they’re not hanging out in public spaces.”

These calls were echoed by those working downtown, who just want to feel safe again.

“I’d like to see increase in security, more social support for the folks that don’t have homes and are struggling I think we can do much better job that way and I think it would create a much safer space for everybody,” said Candice.