Vancouver, British Columbia, January 24, 2012 – The Vancouver Police Department celebrated today the completion of two important new projects that will greatly improve public safety in Vancouver. Officials were on hand from the governments of Canada and British Columbia, the City of Vancouver, the Vancouver Police Board and the Vancouver Police Department.
Both projects involved improvements to the Vancouver Police Department's infrastructure. The first project constructed a new Property and Forensic Storage Facility, including new vehicle forensic laboratories and associated storage. The second project involved the consolidation of administrative and investigative offices from 312 Main Street and 5 East 8th Ave, to a new building located at 3585 Graveley Street.
"Our Government is committed to the safety and security of Vancouverites,"
said the Honourable James Moore, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages and Senior Minister Responsible for British Columbia. "The completion of these two important projects will provide the Vancouver Police Department with new state-of-the-art facilities to better protect and serve the City."
"We're committed to investing in infrastructure to build safe, healthy and strong communities,"
said Blair Lekstrom, Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure. "These new state-of-the-art facilities will improve police operations and crime solving, making Vancouver a safer place to live for families."
"Public safety is a top priority in our city and we've seen a significant drop in our crime rate since 2010,"
said Gregor Robertson, Mayor of Vancouver. "I am pleased that the investments in these two new facilities will enable the VPD to be more efficient and effective in reducing crime and will help bring us closer to the goal of becoming the safest big city in Canada."
"These new facilities will improve the efficiency and effectiveness of Vancouver police officers,"
said Chief Constable Jim Chu of the Vancouver Police Department. "It is very reassuring to see that all three levels of government recognize that public safety is a priority."
The two projects being celebrated today have received a joint investment of over $45 million. The Government of Canada committed $15 million under the Infrastructure Stimulus Fund. The Province of British Columbia committed $10 million and the City of Vancouver is providing the remaining funds, which are approximately $20.3 million.
As part of the Government of Canada's Economic Action Plan, the Infrastructure Stimulus Fund supported more than 4,100 infrastructure projects across the country. The federal government committed over $505 million to more than 440 projects under the Infrastructure Stimulus Fund across British Columbia.
Although the Infrastructure Stimulus Fund is now complete, the economic benefits of these projects will last for years to come.
Since October 2008, over $5.5 billion has been committed by the province to over 900 infrastructure projects in British Columbia, which are estimated to create more than 35,000 jobs over the life of the projects.
For further information on Infrastructure Canada's investments in British Columbia, visit www.infrastructure.gc.ca. To learn more about Canada's Economic Action Plan, visit www.actionplan.gc.ca.
Contacts:
Pierre Floréa
Office of the Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities
613-991-0700
Constable Jana McGuinness
Media Relations Officer
Vancouver Police Department
604-717-2807
Daisy Brooke
Government Communications and Public Engagement
Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure
250-387-6770
City of Vancouver
Corporate Communications
604-871-6336
media@vancouver.ca
Infrastructure Canada
613-960-9251
Toll free: 1-877-250-7154
The Government of Canada, the Province of British Columbia and the City of Vancouver committed a total of $45.3 million to enhance the Vancouver Police Department's infrastructure.
Vancouver Police Property Office and Forensic Storage Facility
This project involved the development of a property and forensic storage facility, including an additional 65,000 square feet of space to provide a new consolidated property office for receiving, storing and safekeeping of found and seized property and evidence, and the construction of vehicle forensic laboratories and associated storage. This new building will provide a consolidated and secure property storage office to meet the needs of the Police Department, upgrade existing public safety facilities, and relocate the forensic operations to modern facilities. The building was designed and constructed with a view to achieving LEED Gold standard. Construction on this project began in June 2010 and is now complete.
The Government of Canada and the Province of British Columbia each committed $10 million toward this project. The City of Vancouver provided $10.3 million, bringing the total investment to $30.3 million.
Vancouver Police Administrative and Investigative Offices' Relocation
This project involved the relocation of the Vancouver Police Department's administrative and investigative offices from 312 Main Street and 5 East 8th Ave to 3585 Graveley Street. The consolidation of these functions in a new building will allow the City to avoid steadily increasing maintenance and operating costs for a building that is beyond its economic life, significantly reduce the seismic risk and improve continuity for important public safety operations, consolidate activities to improve the efficiency of many investigative and administrative aspects of the department, and reorganize the remaining operations. Construction on this project began in September 2010 and is now complete.
The Government of Canada committed $5 million toward this project. The City of Vancouver is contributing the remaining necessary funds, toward the total eligible cost of $15 million.
