Victoria, BC – VicPD volunteers handed out over 500 #BeSeen lights over the weekend as part of our efforts to help keep people seen and safe this winter.
VicPD Community Events Team volunteers with our Community Engagement Division were part of this weekend’s Greater Victoria Festival Society Wicked Victoria event downtown. The team set up a booth armed with #BeSeen lights and reflective “slap-wraps” as well as VicPD branded stickers, “junior constable” badges and temporary tattoos. These lights were handed out to children and families in advance of trick-or-treating and daylight savings time in efforts to help increase visibility during fall and winter in Victoria and Esquimalt.
“Both Halloween and the shorter days during this time of year mean that being visible while walking and biking can help you be safer,” Cst. Matt Rutherford said. “Our Community Events Team are key members of our wider Community Engagement Division team efforts to help everyone be a bit safer this year.”
“Helping to keep Esquimalt and Victoria community members safe is one of the most rewarding roles that our volunteers fill,” Volunteer Services Coordinator Tara Gilroy-Scott said. “By connecting with people, by handing out the lights, our Community Event Team’s efforts mirror those of our Crime Watch, Speed Watch and other volunteer teams in our overall community safety improvement efforts.”
The #BeSeen fall and winter campaign includes our #BeSeenHalloween costume contest which features entrants who are dressed as police officers and emphasizes high visibility costumes. The winners of this contest will be taken on a trick-or-treat tour of our Caledonia Avenue headquarters and enjoy a photoshoot with Chief Del Manak and a VicPD patrol car and motorcycle on October 31st.
Additional #BeSeen outreach activities are planned for the weeks ahead.
For information on volunteering with our Community Events Team please visit https://vicpd.ca/volunteers.
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