The gathering at Nelson’s Capitol Theatre Tuesday evening had all the markings of community at a crossroads. Nearly 200 residents filled the historic venue, some clutching coffee cups against the autumn chill, others with notebooks open, ready to tackle what Mayor Janice Morrison described as “our most pressing civic challenges.”
The public safety forum, hosted by the City of Nelson, brought together frontline workers, healthcare professionals, and concerned citizens to address the interconnected issues of homelessness, mental health, substance use, and community safety that have increasingly affected this picturesque Kootenay town.
“We need to understand these issues don’t exist in isolation,” Morrison told the crowd. “The solutions won’t either.”
For many Nelsonites, the forum represented a crucial opportunity to move beyond frustration toward action. Local business owner Sarah Jenkins shared how her downtown shop has been affected. “I’ve worked on Baker Street for fifteen years. The changes we’ve seen in the past three aren’t just about property crime—they’re about people in genuine crisis with nowhere to turn.”
Dr. Kathleen MacPherson, an addiction medicine specialist with Interior Health, presented sobering statistics showing emergency mental health visits in the region have increased 43% since 2019. “What we’re witnessing isn’t unique to Nelson,” she explained. “Communities across B.C. are grappling with the combined effects of the housing crisis, pandemic isolation, and increasingly toxic drug supplies.”
The audience listened intently as RCMP Staff Sergeant Kris Clark outlined how police responses have evolved. “Ten years ago, about 15% of our calls involved someone in mental distress. Today, it’s closer to 40%,” Clark said. “Our officers are often first responders to health crises that require specialized support, not enforcement.”
Nelson’s proximity to larger urban centers has created both challenges and opportunities. Some attendees pointed to successful harm reduction models in places like Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside, while others expressed concern about adapting urban solutions to Nelson’s smaller-scale infrastructure and resources.
Angela Morris from Nelson Community Services highlighted how rural communities face unique barriers. “When someone needs detox or psychiatric assessment, they often face transfers to Kelowna or even the Lower Mainland. That distance fractures support networks exactly when they’re needed most.”
Perhaps the most powerful moments came during community testimonials. Retired teacher David Collins spoke about his son’s struggles with schizophrenia and homelessness. “The system asks families to navigate a maze of services that don’t communicate with each other,” Collins said, his voice breaking. “Meanwhile, our loved ones fall through ever-widening cracks.”
The forum wasn’t without tension. When discussion turned to expanding harm reduction services, including a proposed supervised consumption site, several attendees expressed concerns about neighborhood impacts. However, harm reduction advocate Jamie Marshall countered with evidence from the BC Centre for Disease Control showing such facilities reduce public disorder and connect vulnerable people to health services.
“Harm reduction isn’t about enabling—it’s about keeping people alive until they’re ready for recovery,” Marshall said. “You can’t recover if you’re dead.”
According to provincial data presented at the forum, the Interior Health region recorded 158 toxic drug deaths in 2022, with smaller communities seeing disproportionate increases. Nelson’s relatively isolated geography presents additional challenges for coordinated response strategies.
City Councillor Jesse Woodward emphasized that successful approaches must balance compassion with accountability. “This isn’t about choosing between public safety and supporting vulnerable populations—we need both,” Woodward said. “Other communities have shown us it’s possible.”
Several practical initiatives emerged from the discussion. The Nelson Street Outreach Team reported early success with their pilot program pairing mental health workers with peer support specialists to engage people experiencing homelessness. The team has connected 38 individuals with housing assessments and healthcare services since launching in July.
Interior Health announced expanded hours for mental health urgent care, allowing more same-day assessments without emergency room visits. Meanwhile, the Nelson Police Department is training additional officers in crisis intervention techniques through their specialized Mental Health Unit.
Community member Diane Schulz expressed cautious optimism after the three-hour session. “I’ve lived here 25 years and seen how divisive these issues can become,” she said. “Tonight felt different—less finger-pointing, more rolling up sleeves.”
As the meeting concluded, Mayor Morrison announced the formation of a Community Action Coalition with representatives from healthcare, business, social services, and lived experience to develop a coordinated strategy. Monthly progress updates will be published on the city’s website, with quarterly public meetings to ensure accountability.
“Tonight is just the beginning,” Morrison said. “The measure of success won’t be how well we talked about these problems, but how effectively we address them together.”
The next public forum is scheduled for January 15, focusing specifically on affordable housing solutions and their connection to community wellness and public safety outcomes.
