The Province has published the final report of the independent Commission of Inquiry into Community Events Safety. This report comes approximately one month after UBCM delivered its input to the Commission, and just over two months since the tragic events that took place during the City of Vancouver’s Lapu-Lapu Day Festival.
The Commission’s report includes six recommendations for the Province’s consideration. These recommendations are the culmination of the Commission’s two-month study that included stakeholder engagement (e.g., written submissions, interviews, questionnaires), a jurisdictional scan, and review of local government bylaws and other relevant guidelines and processes.
- Risk Assessments in Event Planning: That all public events be supported by a risk assessment that could be prepared by event organizers, local governments or both, depending on local capacity. The Commission has attached Event Safety Plan and Event Risk Assessment templates as part of its final report, to support this work.
- Clarifying Jurisdictional Roles in Event Oversight: That the Province establish a framework that outlines the roles and responsibilities (e.g., planning, approving, and emergency response) of all parties involved with organizing community events.
- Training for Planning Support and Centralized Hub: That the Province create a centralized hub that would provide standardized advice, training and tools for parties, including local governments. The hub would also hold responsibility for setting expectations for all parties related to planning, approvals and safety responsibilities. The intention of this recommendation is to create consistency across communities and clarity regarding roles and responsibilities.
- Support for Event Delivery and Local Capacity: That the Province provide necessary supports (e.g., targeted grants, direct funding and staffing support) to offset rising costs for community events. This is in response to stakeholder engagement that indicated safety and security costs to be a major impediment to hosting community events; and, that staffing, competing priorities, and a lack of expertise are also presenting challenges with respect to event oversight and permitting.
- Foster Local Collaboration on Event Safety: That the Province encourage, promote and support regular tabletop exercises that involve all key parties (e.g., police, fire departments, event organizers and emergency management personnel). The Commission also suggests that the Province support community-led safety planning work.
- Promote Learning Through Event Evaluation: That the Province encourage the use of after-action reports and post-event public feedback as ways to evaluate events and identify areas for improvement. The Commission has also requested that the Province create a centralized data repository, where key information (e.g., case studies, lessons learned) can be accessed to support future event planning. The Province is asked to consult with key stakeholders (e.g., local governments, event organizers, public safety agencies) as part of this work.
Recommendations are intended to guide and assist communities, (as opposed to impose onerous or strict requirements), consistent with UBCM’s recommendation for guidance and best practices. UBCM’s submission to the Commission also emphasized the need for flexibility, avoiding a one-size-fits-all approach, and consideration for local government resources and capacity levels.
The Commission’s research found that the majority of public events in B.C. are well-organized and have taken place without any serious incidents, although there are a wide range of capacity levels in communities and a lack of standardization. Many of those consulted emphasized the importance of holding community events, to boost economies, celebrate cultures, build communities, and spend times with families and friends.
The report also advised that despite the Premier’s comments regarding the importance of reviewing the availability of mental health services, that this issue fell outside the Commission’s mandate. UBCM, in its submission, specifically noted “the need for greater mental health support as part of our community events safety framework.”
As part of his initial response to the report, the Honourable Terry Yung, Minister of State for Community Safety and Integrated Services, has supported the inclusion of Event Safety Plan and Event Risk Assessment templates. He also advised that the Province “accept[s] the intent of the recommendations” and is considering next steps.