Consultation draws about a dozen downtown residents
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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 22/07/2025 (247 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
Brandon Police Service gave downtown residents a second chance to share their thoughts for Brandon’s Downtown Safety Strategy after the first consultation yielded few participants.
“We thought that it would be prudent to have more voices at the table and more feedback,” BPS Chief Tyler Bates said at the consultation on Tuesday. “Your feedback is really critical.”
A previous consultation meeting with downtown residents was held on April 17 and had around six participants.
Residents of downtown Brandon (Ward 2) meet with Brandon Police Service Chief Tyler Bates and Megan Foster with Mosaic Engagement at the A.R. McDiarmid Complex as part of the public consultation to discuss the chief's Downtown Public Safety Strategy on Tuesday morning. (Matt Goerzen/The Brandon Sun)
Bates said BPS handed out flyers to inform people of the first meeting, opting not to make a social media post out of concern that people who aren’t downtown residents would come to the meeting anyway.
Ahead of Tuesday’s meeting, BPS issued a social media post announcing the second meeting and made it clear the invite was intended for downtown residents only. About a dozen people showed up.
“It was a small group overall this time as well,” Bates said after the meeting. “I think collectively, between the two groups, we certainly got enough participants to provide meaningful feedback.”
Bates said he wanted to make sure the police service’s efforts are focused on the needs of the community.
“Who better to communicate those needs than the people that are experiencing the consequences of social disorder and crime right within their neighbourhoods?”
He said the consultation stage is now complete, with BPS having held consultations with downtown businesses, social service agencies, focus groups and within the police service.
The next step will be taking the feedback from all the consultations and making a public document showing the data, which Bates said will be available in roughly a month.
He said he will also be speaking with representatives from each group to continue discussing the safety strategy.
BPS has yet to choose a representative for downtown residents, but a signup sheet was available at Tuesday’s meeting for people who may be interested.
» sanderson@brandonsun.com