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Cranbrook, BC (December 19, 2023) – Cranbrook’s Situation Table – a strategic group of front-line workers from a broad range of organizations and services held its first official meeting on December 12, 2023.

Participants of the situation table range from police officers, health services, housing, mental health support, addiction services, community supports, diverse abilities, education, women’s services, community corrections, Indigenous services, faith-based organizations, public services, and more.

The goal of this situation table is for these organizations and services to work collaboratively to develop immediate, appropriate, and coordinated responses to reduce or eliminate risk in a timely manner.

“The successful launch of the table stems from community recognition of the increasingly complex nature and number of adversities individuals and families are facing, typically beyond the scope of a single agency to address,” says Marcel Germer, Social Development Coordinator with the City of Cranbrook. “The situation table is an effective platform to leverage community assets and resources to prevent crisis, help clients navigate lowering risk factors in their lives and decreasing the strain on emergency services.

The table is scheduled to meet weekly, every Tuesday.

An application was submitted to The Office of Crime Reduction and Gang Outreach in June 2023 for funding to activate the situation table. Part of the application process required letters of support from community partners. The positive response across various sectors was excellent and propelled the initiative forward through weeks of training and preparation.

To learn more about community safety situation tables, visit the Province of BC website @ https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/justice/criminal-justice/policing-in-bc/collaborative-public-safety-program/situation-tables.