Community safety and well-being are priorities in every Ontario community. Under the Ontario Police Services Act, in 2019, municipalities are required to develop and adopt a Community Safety and Well-Being (CSWB) Plan. This plan aims to address the root causes of crime and complex social challenges by focusing on prevention, social development, and collaborative problem-solving.
The City of Sault Ste. Marie is developing the CSWB Plan. Unlike traditional incident-based responses, the CSWB plan takes a holistic approach, recognizing that complex issues cannot be addressed in isolation. Municipalities must work with multi-sectoral advisory committees, bringing together representatives from social and community organizations such as school boards, the police service, boards of health, and any other local service provider who contributes to safety and well-being.
The goal of the CSWB Plan is to create a roadmap for collaboration across sectors to make Ontario communities safer, more inclusive, more resilient, and places where all residents thrive.
“Community safety and well-being are shared responsibilities that require integrated approaches,” said Brent Lamming, Deputy CAO, Community Development and Enterprise Services. “The City of Sault Ste. Marie is committed to ensuring that resources needed for residents to prosper are accessible, available, and affordable. The plan will provide us with a roadmap to address some of the tough issues our residents face. Together, we are striving for a thriving, safe, and inclusive community where everyone belongs.”
As part of this process, the City is seeking input from the public. A community survey is available from now until October 24, 2025. All residents are encouraged to share their feedback to help shape the CSWB Plan. The survey can be accessed on the homepage of the City’s website or at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/MXHL76F.