Tuesday January 13, 2026 | LANGFORD, BC [Posted at 7:45 pm]
by Mary P Brooke | Island Social Trends
City of Langford Council endorsed the West Shore RCMP Facility Expansion Validation Report at their January 12, 2026 Council meeting.
Following a detailed presentation by the lead Integrated Project Delivery (IPD) Advisor and two of the IPD team members, Council directed staff to prepare the necessary contracts to move forward with the construction of the project.
This marks the next step following Council’s December 2025 approval of the funding mechanism for the project.
Robust process:
Council expressed their confidence in the robust process that has been undertaken to date and underscored the importance of moving forward with this critical community safety infrastructure project given the existing detachment is well beyond capacity.
Council feels that this project will provide the community with a modern post-disaster building that will accommodate the RCMP for the next 25 years.
Three owners:
The Owners of the RCMP detachment are: City of Langford, City of Colwood, and Town of View Royal.
Those three west shore municipalities have engaged in an IPD contract model and project methodology, which was unanimously approved by each member of the Owners Group in early 2023.
The Town of View Royal on their website says they are working with Langford and Colwood to plan for the expansion of the West Shore RCMP facility.
“The project aims to address space and operational needs of the RCMP to accommodate 25 years of growth in the West Shore. At its December 2, 2025 meeting, View Royal Council gave consent for the CRD to adopt two bylaws necessary to create a sub-regional service and authorize borrowing for the proposed expansion,” states the Town of View Royal.
As municipalities grow in terms of population and complexity of communities and services, usually the demand on policing increases (as well as on firefighting and emergency services).
The population of Langford is expected to reach about 100,000 by 2050 due to increased housing supply. The population of Colwood is also growing rapidly due to significant housing development. View Royal’s population growth is not as robust but seems keen to maintain policing services support.
Two other municipalities are policed by the West Shore RCMP — the District of Highlands and the District of Metchosin (both of which are relatively rural and do not have significant population growth), as well as two First Nations — Esquimalt and Songhees.
CRD loan-backing:
The Capital Regional District (CRD) has backed a loan for the three municipalities to develop the new West Shore RCMP building. The loan authorization permits up to $103 million in borrowing for construction.
IPD:
The IPD approach brings together architects, builders, engineers, with the Owners and the RCMP in a collaborative design process.
The IPD model provides for shared risk/reward and a shared governance and management structure. In this case, the IPD non-owner team members have signed the Validation Report, which commits to designing and building the project to the performance requirements, scope, and RCMP operational continuity expectations as specified, for $87.5 million.
In IPD, typical cost overruns reduce the shared profit pool, which holds all consultants/contractors profits for the duration of the project and is distributed only if the project is on time and on budget.
The IPD governance process is about mutual accountability for all parties signatory to the IPD contract. This results in a proactive risk mitigation focus as well as transparent and open processes where all parties work together to adapt project delivery to meet the “best for project” outcomes, not what is best for each individual company.
Langford and View Royal on board so far:
The City of Langford and Town of View Royal Councils have each provided Council consent to the Capital Regional District (CRD) bylaws, which, if approved, will create the mechanism to fund the project.
Langford has now approved the Validation Report.
- At their December 8, 2025 council meeting, Colwood Council deferred consideration of Council consent to the CRD bylaws, instead directing staff to hire an independent consultant to review the project.
- Subsequently, at the January 12, 2026 Colwood Council meeting, that municipality deferred approval of the Validation Report.
- Until Colwood has given their consent to the CRD bylaws, and all parties approve the Validation Report, the project cannot move forward.
All Mayors & CAOs involved:
From the outset, all Mayors and Chief Administrative Officers (CAOs) have been actively involved in the project.
After Colwood’s former CAO retired, he continued on as the Owners’ representative until Colwood insisted on a change, after which the CAO of View Royal assumed the role.
At no time did Colwood’s new CAO request a greater role in the project, says the City of Langford. Furthermore, the Colwood Manager of Building and Bylaw Services is a key part of the Project Management Team.
Colwood misunderstands:
Based upon the January 12, 2026, Colwood Council meeting, it appears that Colwood misunderstands the IPD model, says the City of Langford in a news release today January 13, 2026.
“The most glaring example is that they questioned the lack of a traditional project manager, however, the central premise of the IPD process is management through a collaborative project management team that has the collective responsibility for the total project results,” states the City of Langford today.
“This is a foundational concept in IPD, so that consultants and contractors are all focused on solving problems together and have mutual accountability to the project and Owners as compared to more traditional models where blame, claims, and litigation can be the focus. Moreover, the IPD process has been socialized across Canada with over 130 projects to date that have used the IPD process,” says Langford Mayor Scott Goodmanson.
“At the same January 12, 2026 meeting, there were comments made by a Colwood Council member that criticized staff from the other municipalities,” says Goodmanson.
“The same Council member also referenced a confidential conversation between Langford Mayor Scott Goodmanson and former West Shore RCMP Superintendent Todd Preston, information that should not have been shared outside of the two parties involved,” says Goodmanson.
“These actions and comments are inappropriate and unprofessional, and also contradict the stated values of respect, trust, and cooperation detailed in the Project Charter, a document that Colwood insisted on establishing in 2025. Further, there are other significant misrepresentations that were made through commentary during the Colwood Council meeting which will be clarified in the near future,” says Goodmanson.
Island Social Trends has asked the City of Colwood for comment.
Still seeking collaboration:
“Our communities elect us to make significant decisions that advance community safety supports. Major projects like this demand strong leadership and collaboration to bring them across the finish line,” said Langford Mayor Goodmanson.
“It is disappointing to see Colwood Council pushing back on a process that they already endorsed and ultimately delaying a project that they have been actively engaged in for over five years,” says Goodmanson.
Notably, there were no Colwood representatives at a meeting on December 9, 2025 where a policing consulting presentation was offered to the west shore public.
Langford forges ahead:
The City of Langford in their news release today says that Langford Council stands behind its decision to move ahead with what they describe as an important project.
Langford urges Colwood Council “to show leadership in moving forward in a timely manner” with their secondary review process.
“It is critical that the project moves ahead before members of the IPD team are lost to other projects and before costly delays are incurred,” says Langford. “This project should not be derailed because of misunderstandings and a lack of open communication,” the City of Langford stated today.
Seminar option:
In the spirit of collaboration, the City of Langford is willing to host a seminar facilitated by the lead IPD Delivery Advisor for Colwood Council so everyone better understands the IPD process.
Council video:
- To watch the video of the January 12, 202, City of Langford Council meeting, see Langford.ca/Meetings.
- To learn more about the project including previous community updates through media releases visit: Langford.ca/RCMP
===== RELATED:
- Langford hosts consultant-led info session on policing & public safety (December 12, 2025)
- Three municipalities get CRD loan to upgrade West Shore RCMP building (November 27, 2025)
- West Shore RCMP announces new Officer in Charge (November 22, 2025)
- NEWS SECTIONS: LANGFORD | COLWOOD | WEST SHORE RCMP