St. Stephen approves funds for a community safety survey

St. Stephen council has voted to pay $4,480 to conduct a community safety survey through the Canadian Centres for Safer Communities. 

It was a key deliverable in the municipal plan, according to Mayor Allan MacEachern. 

The community has faced challenges including increased crime and a growing number of people experiencing homelessness. 

It also has been dealing with an absentee landlord who has left several properties to become dilapidated – of which several have been the subject of the Safer Communities and Neighbourhood Acts raids by peace officers. 

“It is very important that when this survey does go out, we get as many people as possible to fill it out,” said Coun. Wade Greenlaw. “The survey takes about 20 minutes. It’s detailed but the results from it will help the community with the right actions to try and make things better.”

Greenlaw appealed to not only residents, but non-profit groups, business organizations, and others to also fill out the survey. 

“When this goes out, I urge everybody to fill it out, the more that fill it out, the more accurate the information will be.” 

The community did complete its survey back in the fall with a bit more than 200 respondents. 

The survey was done by a group of citizens who both had concerns about perceived increased crime but also lived in proximity to Starshine Properties – apartments owned by an alleged absentee landlord who lives in Alberta. 

“A lot of residents have spent quite a lot of money on putting security, security cameras, additional lighting, and getting dogs,” said David Whittingham, the survey co-creator. “Also when you read some of the comments that came back with the surveys, the written comments say they have baseball bats at their back doors now, which they never did before.” 

About 79 per cent of respondents said they felt their quality of life had suffered. Another 88 per cent said they knew seniors who felt unsafe or threatened. 

The survey reported 80 per cent of respondents found discarded drug paraphernalia. 

It was conducted by members of the community and not by any official organization. 

According to a report filed by CCSC, it projected the cost would be $4,480, with an expected completion date of May 2025. 

It outlined the costs as follows: 

• Reviewing, adapting, and finalizing the survey questionnaire, 30 minutes, $80.00
• Uploading survey to the online platform and making a paper copy, 30 minutes, $80.00
• Compiling survey results for each question, 10 hours, $1,600
• Conducting bivariate analyses for up to 8 questions, 10 hours, $1,600
• Writing a comprehensive report of findings, 4 hours, $640

The price includes $480 in taxes. 

CCSC is expected to come before the council virtually to present its comprehensive report. 

“It will be presented in council and to the public and thanks to Coun. Greenlaw for bringing this forward,” said Mayor Allan MacEachern. 

The council voted unanimously in favor of the survey.