Thetis Lake Park visitors found themselves unexpectedly turned away Wednesday morning following what RCMP described as an overnight “firearms-related mental health call” that prompted a substantial police response and temporary closure of the popular recreation area.
I arrived at the scene shortly after 8:30 a.m. to find barricades and West Shore RCMP officers redirecting morning hikers and dog walkers from the main entrance. The mood among those turned away was a mix of concern and frustration, with several regulars wondering aloud about the welfare of the individual involved.
“We come here three times a week,” said Marion Kelsey, who had driven from Langford with her border collie. “You never expect something like this in a place where people come to find peace.”
According to West Shore RCMP spokesperson Cpl. Nancy Saggar, officers responded to the park around 11 p.m. Tuesday after receiving reports of a person in distress who was potentially armed. The call prompted what witnesses described as a significant police presence that remained active through the night.
“Our primary concern was ensuring public safety while also providing appropriate support for the individual experiencing a mental health crisis,” Cpl. Saggar explained during a brief media update. “These situations require specialized resources and extreme caution.”
The incident highlights the complex intersection between mental health response and public safety that police forces across Canada continue to navigate. According to Statistics Canada data, police responded to over 385,000 mental health-related calls in 2020, representing a 23% increase over five years.
Dr. Karen Urbanoski, a mental health and substance use researcher at the University of Victoria, notes that such incidents reflect broader systemic challenges.
“When someone reaches a crisis point in a public space, especially involving concerns about weapons, it creates this difficult balancing act between compassionate intervention and necessary safety protocols,” Urbanoski said when reached for comment. “These situations often represent failures further upstream in our mental health support systems.”
By early afternoon, West Shore RCMP announced the situation had been resolved peacefully, with the individual receiving appropriate care. The park reopened to visitors around 1:30 p.m., though many regular morning users had already altered their plans for the day.
For Capital Regional District parks staff, the incident presented unusual challenges. Park facilities coordinator James Porter acknowledged the disruption while emphasizing visitor safety as their primary concern.
“We work closely with RCMP and emergency services when situations arise,” Porter said. “While today’s closure was unfortunate for regular users, we’re grateful for the public’s understanding and the professional response from police.”
The temporary closure affected dozens of recreational users, including a senior hiking group that had planned a morning nature walk. Group organizer Elaine Middleton said they quickly relocated to nearby Francis/King Regional Park.
“It’s unfortunate, but these things happen,” Middleton remarked. “Our concern is for whoever was going through such difficulties that brought them out here in distress.”
This incident comes amid ongoing conversations about appropriate response models for mental health crises. Victoria Police Department recently expanded its Co-Response Team program, which pairs officers with mental health professionals, though similar resources aren’t yet as widely available in West Shore communities.
Thetis Lake Regional Park, spanning over 800 hectares of protected forest and featuring popular swimming beaches, sees over 500,000 visitors annually. Park officials confirmed no damage occurred to facilities, and regular operations resumed Wednesday afternoon.
For mental health advocates, incidents like these underscore the importance of continued investment in crisis response resources. The Vancouver Island Crisis Society, which operates a 24-hour crisis line, reported a 32% increase in calls since the beginning of the pandemic.
“Public mental health crises require comprehensive community responses,” said Emily Richardson, crisis line coordinator. “While police are often first responders, we need to continue building systems that can provide appropriate care while minimizing trauma for everyone involved.”
As I left the park in the afternoon, visitors were once again filtering in, the morning’s events seemingly distant. Two teenagers snapped photos by the lake while an elderly couple walked their small dog along the main trail. Park life had returned to normal – a reminder of both the temporary nature of such disruptions and the resilience of community spaces.
For anyone experiencing mental health difficulties, support is available through the Vancouver Island Crisis Line at 1-888-494-3888 or the provincial Mental Health Support Line at 310-6789 (no area code needed).
