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Thousands turn out for the Victoria Day Parade Page A5
NEWS: Senior injured during home invasion /A3 COMMUNITY: Candlelight tribute enlightend /A11 ARTS: Literacy fundraiser takes Belfry stage /A12
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VicPD faces looming crisis despite lower crime rate Police department worries about changing nature of reporting for officers Don Descoteau News staff
Safe and secure in the Capital City – Victoria’s new motto, perhaps? In his state of the city speech to Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce members, Mayor Dean Fortin trumpeted a significant regional reduction in severe crimes and the region’s sub-B.C. average overall crime rate – both largely due to falling rates in the city – as signs Victoria is on the right track in its efforts to attract both shoppers and residents downtown. On Tuesday at the Union Club, he pointed to such city initiatives as the late-night police task force, late-night taxi stands and Bar Watch as helping to create a safer downtown. Such moves helped the Victoria Police Department experience a 26-per-cent reduction in the number of public disorder calls last year, he said. The tone of Fortin’s speech was upbeat: the Johnson Street Bridge project will provide hundreds of local jobs, city-subsidized housing is getting dozens of people off the street and the city’s kitchen waste program is posting betterthan-expected results. But city policing faces an underlying crisis. PlEASE SEE: Writing reports, Page A15
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Horsing around Victoria Carriage Tour driver Marina Powel gets horses Herbie, left, and Luke back to the stable at Ogden Point. Horsedrawn carriage rides remain popular with both tourists and residents.