After 18 months the many organizations involved in the Mayor’s Task Force on Homelessness, Community Safety and Wellbeing has successfully completed its mandate.

City of Cranbrook council is proud of the progress made and more importantly the coordination that now exists in Cranbrook between the provincial ministries, healthcare, housing, local non-profits and community organizations to continue carrying this important work forward, which is why the Task Force has officially dissolved as its goal of creating a coordinated approach has been achieved.

Created by Council in October 2023, the Task Force was designed as a focused, time-limited group of community professionals from healthcare and social services to business owners and the Cranbrook Chamber of Commerce, to the enforcement and first responders appointed by the Mayor.

Their role was to begin coordinating their efforts across that spectrum of responsibilities and to identify key issues contributing to Cranbrook’s complex social challenges and provide council with clear, actionable recommendations.

The Task Force delivered its final report with five recommendations in October 2024 and, with council’s approval, extended its work for an additional year. This extension allowed the group to move beyond planning and actively collaborate with Cranbrook’s social network to put those recommendations into action.

“One of the real successes of the Mayor’s Task Force on Homelessness, Community Safety and Wellbeing, has been bringing so many committed groups together – from non-profits and ministry branches to health care, enforcement, and business organizations. Instead of working separately, these groups are now collaborating, sharing resources, and building stronger connections,” stated Mayor Wayne Price.

“We’re very grateful for the dedication each partner has shown, and this cooperative effort is already creating momentum and attracting federal and provincial grant funding to better address the challenges of homelessness in Cranbrook.”

Cranbrook has made real progress since this Task Force was created. In 2021, camps like the 20 tents behind McDonald’s on the berm along Ridgeview Road that often caused conflicts with businesses, customers, and visitors, other encampments near creeks and schools were highly visible and concerning to parents and residents nearby.

Today, thanks to the teamwork of Task Force members and ongoing enforcement, those highly visible and problematic urban encampments are no longer in high visibility and busy areas. This has reduced conflicts in the community, lowered emergency response needs, and saved taxpayers money, showing the results that come when organizations work together.

In late July 2025, Cranbrook Fire & Emergency Services reported a steady stability in the volume of calls responded to by the department in three straight quarters dating back to the fall of 2024. The focal areas ofthose calls were near the downtown core and near the highway corridor.

The Cranbrook RCMP detachment over the past two quarters continue to conduct regular proactive policing including nearly 100 joint patrols with City Bylaw Officers and routine foot patrols in key areas, since the beginning of 2025 highlighting a strong commitment to visibility and collaboration within the community making a noticeable difference in Cranbrook.

The city thanks all the Task Force members and community partners for their commitment and collaboration and the good work achieved, and will continue to support the nonprofits and community organizations that are best positioned to continue working together creating long-lasting and positive impacts for Cranbrook.

Learn more about the Task Force.

e-KNOW file photo

City of Cranbrook

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