City of St. John's Seeks Public Input for Crime and Violence Prevention Strategy

The City of St. John’s is seeking input and recommendations from residents and the community to aid in the development and facilitation of a new crime and violence prevention strategy.

Through a generous funding allocation from Public Safety Canada's Building Safer Communities Fund (BSCF), the City of St. John's will secure up to $1.83 million by March 2026. This grant will support the development and facilitation of a comprehensive crime and violence prevention strategy in collaboration with community partners and stakeholders. The primary focus of this strategy is to address the social determinants of violence and crime, particularly for children, youth, young adults, and their families. While the City does not provide direct services or programs related to public safety or crime prevention, it acts as an important facilitator in developing long term strategic planning and concrete initiatives to improve community safety.

"We're committed to making our city safer and more vibrant for everyone,” said Mayor of the City of St. John’s, Danny Breen. “By seeking feedback from our residents and community, we're taking an essential step towards developing a comprehensive crime and violence prevention strategy."

The City is interested in receiving feedback on residents’ recent experiences with violence and crime and perceptions of safety, as well as suggestions of best practices in the community, identification of service gaps, and new initiatives that could be considered. The newly established Building Safer Communities Steering Committee and City staff will carefully review and consider feedback when developing the strategy.

A variety of tools are available to provide feedback such as:

• An online survey;
• Submit ideas on the EngageStJohns.ca project page;
• Email Engage@StJohns.ca; and/or
• Call 311 and ask to speak to a member of the project team.

Residents can also provide feedback by registering for one of the following public meetings:

• Tuesday, March 5: 6 to 7:30 p.m. - Virtual via Zoom 
• Thursday, March 7: 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. - St. John’s Farmer’s Market, 245 Freshwater Road
• Tuesday, March 26: 6:30 to 8 p.m. – Foran Greene Room, City Hall

Feedback will be received until March 28, 2024.

"Your feedback matters, and we're eager to hear your experiences, ideas, and concerns. Our Building Safer Communities Steering Committee and City staff will diligently review your input to shape a strategy that fosters safety, belonging, and community engagement," added Mayor Breen.

The City recognizes that some people may need alternate ways to provide feedback. If accommodations are required for a meeting, please ensure registration is completed seven days in advance of the event. For more information about alternate options, please call 311 or email engage@stjohns.ca. 

The City of St. John’s has a strategic direction to be a Connected City, one where people feel connected, have a sense of belonging and are actively engaged in community life. A new violence and crime prevention strategy will advance this direction by improving access to programs, services and public spaces that build safe, healthy and vibrant communities. 

Related Links:

• Engage St. John’s project page
• Building Safer Communities Steering Committee