(Penticton, BC – March 4, 2026) – On March 3, 2026, City Council approved the Community Safety & Wellbeing (CSWB) Plan to move from to its next phase of engagement and planning. The CSWB Plan will serve as a multiyear, data informed roadmap that better aligns the City of Penticton, residents and community partners around shared priorities related to local challenges — including crime prevention and public safety, housing instability and homelessness, mental health and substance use, emergency preparedness, and community social wellbeing.
With Phase 1 now complete, Phase 2 will include community engagement over the next three months, including a new CSWB survey, that will ensure local voices continue to inform the CSWB Plan.
“Penticton is at a pivotal moment,” says Julie Czeck, General Manager of Public Safety and Partnerships. “The CSWB Plan will help align partners around shared priorities and direct resources where they can make the greatest impact.”
Phase 1 was undertaken between spring 2025 and early 2026. The first phase included a comprehensive review of municipal safety data, a jurisdictional scan of other B.C. communities; and analysis of the results from the robust Phase 1 Public Safety & Wellbeing survey. This early engagement included more than 1,800 responses from residents – one of the highest responses the city has seen from public engagement.
With this foundational work now finalized, the city is well-positioned to begin on refining its initial findings. Phase 2 of the CSWB Plan will focus on additional engagement with partners and community members to continue shaping community priorities for safety and well-being and exploring achievable outcomes for each.
More information on the Phase 2 plan will be made available at the Council Open House on May 6 2026, which is open to the public.
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Learn more about the CSWB Plan and take the Phase 2 survey at ShapeYourCityPenticton.ca.
More on CSWB Plans
Many communities across the province—including Kelowna, Nanaimo, Chilliwack, Burnaby and Victoria—have implemented CSWB plans in recent years, aligning partners around shared priorities and helping guide coordinated community safety responses to address community challenges, many of which are growing in frequency and complexity. Penticton’s plan will follow provincial best practices while reflecting local feedback, data insights, and lived experiences in the community.