A safe neighbourhood is a great neighbourhood
A lot of community organizations and agencies are working hard—and together—to keep East Village and East Villagers safe and secure. Safe parks. Safe plazas. Safe streets.
Initiatives
East Village HELP Team
Established in partnership with Alpha House, this dedicated team helps identify and effectively intervene in matters related to street-level addiction and public intoxication. Seven days a week a duo of HELP Team members patrols East Village to assess risk factors for vulnerable individuals and address potential health and safety issues. HELP Team members come from backgrounds in social work, health sciences and criminal justice.
Security Patrols
To increase the neighbourhood’s security presence and support our other safety initiatives, we’ve contracted GardaWorld to patrol East Village and St. Patrick’s Island in vehicles and on foot seven nights a week, from 6 pm to 6 am. GardaWorld ensures its team members are well trained in first aid, situational awareness and de-escalation, and engaging vulnerable people.
East Village Safety Hub
Located in the basement of the St. Louis Hotel, the East Village Safety Hub is a partnership between Calgary Municipal Land Corporation (CMLC), The City of Calgary, Calgary Police Service and the Alpha House Society’s HELP (Human-centered Engagement and Liaison Partnership) Team. The hub model, a best practice in neighbourhood safety, allows multi-agency teams to collaborate and share information about community concerns or incidents and coordinate to deliver the most appropriate response to real and perceived social issues.
To report a crime or speak to an officer in person, the Downtown Community Hub is now open at the Telephone Building, 115 6th Avenue S.W., Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Call the non-emergency line at 403-266-1234 or online here.
For emergency response please call 9-1-1.
Safety & Vitality Committee
Led by CMLC—the organization leading the redevelopment of East Village—this collaborative effort between community stakeholders (including local business owners, condo boards, community organizations and the Calgary Police Service) is committed to ensuring that East Village is a safe and thriving community for all. The committee meets regularly to discuss neighbourhood safety concerns and develop strategies to improve community vitality.
If you are interested in learning more about this committee you can email the Committee Chair here.
Downtown Coordinated Safety & Security Program
This group of downtown area partners meets monthly to discuss issues, share information and collaborate on solutions to matters of safety and security in East Village and the broader downtown area. Members represent downtown organizations and institutions including Calgary Public Library, Bow Valley College, University of Calgary, Arts Commons and Glenbow Museum as well as the Calgary Police Service, local social service agencies and other community partners.
Additional Resources
District 1 Community Resource Officer (CRO) Team
Non-Emergency Crime & Safety in East Village
HELP Team Main Dispatch
Support if someone is sleeping in the doorway to a business or residence or you see open drug use and public intoxication. Daily, 24 hours.
