QRA Meeting Summary - Tuesday September 9, 2025

Topic: Homelessness and Community Safety

The meeting focused on concerns regarding homeless individuals, including some women from Mazarine Lodge (a women’s supportive living program), in the 900 and 800 blocks of Ewen Avenue and on the grounds of the Queensborough Community Centre (QCC).

Community Concerns:

• Parents reported feeling unsafe walking their children to elementary and middle schools due to open drug use and aggressive behaviors in public areas.

• Residents expressed worries about safety on QCC grounds and surrounding streets.

Updates from Local Services:

• City of New Westminster Homelessness Outreach Program (Manager: Nicole O’Connor):

  • The Crisis Response Outreach Team visits the Queensborough area almost daily.

  • They are present at QCC on Thursdays from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm to assist homeless individuals.

Crisis Response Team (Manager: Shawn Sheehan):

• • Community Liaison Officers patrol the QCC area approximately three times per day.

  • Concerns can be reported through a single contact number: 604-527-4502, and the team will respond.

NWPD – Inspector Sanjay Kumar:

• • Community calls to 911 and the non-emergency line have increased over the past three months.

  • When reporting an issue, specify: open drug use in public, threatening behavior, physical aggression, or unsafe activities (e.g., open fires).

  • Request a police “call for service” and ask for the assigned file number.

  • E-Comm handles 911 and non-emergent calls for multiple municipalities:

    • Non-emergent line: 604-525-5411

Social Planning – John Stark:

• • Interested in supporting the community to develop solutions that increase public safety.

Mazarine Lodge – E. Fry (Bonnie Moraiaty, Manager; Heather Lynch, Director):

• • Mazarine Lodge houses up to 44 at-risk women.

  • The Lodge is reviewing community concerns raised by its clients.

Proposed Solutions:

1. Remove the bus shelter in front of Mazarine Lodge.

2. Reestablish an advisory committee at Mazarine Lodge to review community concerns.

3. Encourage residents to call NWPD (911 or non-emergency) to report safety concerns, which raises awareness of local issues.

4. Contact Homeless Outreach workers and Community Liaison Officers to alert the City to problems in the area.

Attachments:

• Two documents (below) providing details about the Crisis Response Pilot Project for further context.