Monday June 30, 2025 | VICTORIA, BC [Posted at 2:17 pm]
by Mary P Brooke | Island Social Trends
YOUR COMMENTS ON FEELING SAFE AT PUBLIC EVENTS: Please email to events@islandsocialtrends.com
Just one day ahead of Canada Day, BC’s Attorney General has issued a statement on the province’s inquiry into event safety.
That work is being done by the Commission of Inquiry into Community Events Safety in B.C., a commission that was formed in the wake of the mass attack at the Lapu Lapu festival in Vancouver on April 26.
A report on safety at community events is coming, says BC Attorney General Niki Sharma.
“The commission was established to examine and report on ways to strengthen security and safety at community events. It was tasked with providing practical information and recommendations to event organizers, local governments and public safety officials,” she said in a news release today.
The recommendations of the commission’s report won’t be ready in time for Canada Day tomorrow. Eby had said in April that he wanted to have recommendations in June.
“I am pleased to have received the report from the commissioner of inquiry into community events safety in B.C., Christopher E. Hinkson,” said Sharma. “The report will be presented to cabinet in the coming days, in accordance with the Public Inquiry Act. Following cabinet’s review, the report will be filed with the clerk of the legislative assembly and made available to the public,” said Sharma in explaining the time line.
Premier feels safe:
Last week Premier David Eby says he will feel safe in his community, and that Canadians might want to recognize how special if not unique that is compared to most other places in the world.
He made that remark to media in the context of what seems to be like escalating violence against politicians, noting the fatal shooting of an elected official in Minnesota and her husband earlier this month.
Work already being done:
Housing and Municipal Affairs Minister Ravi Kahlon says that police have already been working on measures and improvements for protective measures at public community events.
Police and other agencies did not wait to review their protective measures, said Kahlon.
“Most police and other protective services are already doing work to review protective measures and are reviewing their own procedures,” said Kahlon today.
For his own participation at Canada Day community events in his home riding of Delta, Kahlon told media today that he has spoken to police and evidently “additional measures” have been put in place.
Last week an explosive device was set off to break open the door at the constituency office of Infrastructure Minister Bowinn Ma, MLA (North Vancouver-Lonsdale). In response to that, most MLAs closed their constituency offices on Friday while the Sergeant at Arms reviews safety protocols at local offices and also at the BC Legislature.
Canada Day is different in 2025:
This Canada Day is “a little more special” says Kahlon, due to “the challenges with our cousins from down south”.
He is of course referring to the angst that many Canadians have felt this year as US President Donald Trump continues to ‘poke the bear’ by reiterating his wish that Canada become “the 51st state” of his country.
Canadians have responded with a mix of defiance, resilience and pride.
Kahlon encourages British Columbians to “go out and celebrate with their families or in any way they want to celebrate”.
===== RELATED:
- Explosive used to blow open door at Minister Ma’s constituency office (June 27, 2025)
- Dangers of public office highlighted amidst tragic shootings of US lawmakers (June 14, 2025)
- Premier Eby wants answers by June from inquiry into Vancouver mass attack (April 30, 2025)
- Day of Remembrance on May 2 for victims of Lapu Lapu tragedy (April 30, 2025)
- Driver into crowd at Lapu Lapu festival in Vancouver causes deaths and injuries (April 26, 2025)
- NEWS SECTIONS: CANADA DAY | EVENTS |