Victoria police and Island Health launch dedicated mental health response team
Police in B.C.'s capital are pairing up with mental health workers to better respond to service calls involving people struggling with mental health and substance-use issues.
The new co-response team (CRT) partnership between Island Health and the Victoria Police Department officially launched Monday.
The program pairs officers with registered mental health clinicians to respond to calls involving mental health issues in Victoria and Esquimalt, B.C.
The service will operate seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
"VicPD has long advocated for resources to help improve our response to mental health calls,” Victoria police Chief Del Manak said in a statement announcing the launch Monday.
"This is an initiative that will ensure the citizens of Victoria and Esquimalt have a high level of both mental health care and safety when officers respond to mental health calls, and that our frontline officers can remain focused on responding to calls where police should lead, such as preventing and investigating crime, and maintaining public safety."
Leah Hollins, board chair with Island Health, said the program aims to reduce harm to people in crisis and to the community overall.
"These services provide rapid interventions, connect people with services and aim to reduce a person’s involvement with emergency health services, the criminal justice system and law enforcement," she added.
Jennifer Whiteside, B.C.'s minister of mental health and addictions, said the new co-response team will support people who are in distress due to mental health or substance-use issues.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
W5 Investigates
W5 Investigates Car security investigation: How W5 'stole' a car using a device we ordered online
In part two of a three-part series into how thieves are able to drive off with modern vehicles so easily, CTV W5 correspondent Jon Woodward uses a device flagged by police to easily clone a car key.
Satire slinger The Onion buys Alex Jones' Infowars at auction with help from Sandy Hook families
The satirical news publication The Onion won the bidding for Alex Jones' Infowars at a bankruptcy auction, backed by families of Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting victims whom Jones owes more than $1 billion in defamation judgments for calling the massacre a hoax, the families announced Thursday.
South African government says it won't help 4,000 illegal miners inside a closed mine
South Africa's government says it will not help an estimated 4,000 illegal miners inside a closed mine in the country's North West province who have been denied access to basic supplies as part of an official strategy against illegal mining.
EU slaps Meta with a nearly 800 million euro fine for engaging in 'abusive' Marketplace practices
European Union regulators issued their first antitrust fine to Facebook parent Meta on Thursday with a penalty of nearly 800 million euros for what they call 'abusive practices' involving its Marketplace online classified ads business.
B.C. Realtors fined $200K for failure to disclose relevant information to clients
Two B.C. real estate agents have been fined a combined total of more than $200,000 for professional misconduct they committed during the sale of a waterfront property on the Sunshine Coast in 2017.
Trump hammered Democrats on transgender issues. Now the party is at odds on a response
After losing the White House and both houses of Congress, Democrats are grappling with how to handle transgender politics and policy following a campaign that featured withering and often misleading GOP attacks on the issue.
India's 'most wanted terrorist' arrested in Canada
One of India's most wanted terrorists has been arrested and charged in connection with a recent alleged shooting in Ontario.
Trump's defence secretary pick said women shouldn't be in combat roles. These female veterans fear what comes next
Female veterans fear the progress made for women in combat since then will be reversed after U.S. president-elect Donald Trump announced Pete Hegseth this week as his pick for secretary of defense – a Fox News host and Army veteran who has criticized efforts to allow women into combat roles.
Some Scotiabank users facing 'intermittent' access to banking days after scheduled maintenance
Scotiabank users say they are having issues using their bank’s services following a scheduled maintenance period that ended days ago.
Shopping Trends
The Shopping Trends team is independent of the journalists at CTV News. We may earn a commission when you use our links to shop. Read about us.
Vancouver
-
Public invited to sign condolences book for former B.C. premier John Horgan
The public is being invited to share messages in memory of late B.C. premier John Horgan this week.
-
B.C. woman who 'carried on' as mortgage broker, sent falsified documents ordered to pay $35K
A woman from B.C.'s Lower Mainland has been handed a $35,000 penalty after admitting she "carried on" as a mortgage broker in the preparation of 10 mortgage applications, despite lacking the necessary registration.
-
Pedestrian struck, seriously injured in New Westminster
A pedestrian was injured after being hit by a vehicle Wednesday afternoon in New Westminster, police say.
Kelowna
-
B.C. woman sentenced for stealing $14K in funds raised for schoolkids
A B.C. woman who stole more than $14,000 in volunteer-raised funds that were supposed to be spent on school supplies and programs – including hot meals for vulnerable kids – won't spend any time in jail.
-
B.C. emergency room closed for 3rd time in 9 days
The emergency department at South Okanagan General Hospital in Oliver, B.C., will be closed for 31 hours this weekend, the second such closure in a week and the third since the start of November.
-
Child found 'small razor blade' in Halloween candy in Kamloops, B.C., RCMP say
Police in Kamloops, B.C., are reminding parents and guardians to check their children's Halloween candy after receiving a report of a mother finding a razor blade in one of her daughter's treats.
Edmonton
-
NEWNEW 'Out of reach': Edmontonian faces accessibility struggles at local concert venues
A local wheelchair user is drawing attention to the vast differences in accessibility features at Edmonton concert venues.
-
WEATHER
WEATHER Josh Classen's forecast: More cloud than sun and temperatures staying slightly above average
A bit of sunshine in the Edmonton area this morning, but it won't last long as clouds take over for most of today.
-
A look at McDavid's magic moments as the Oilers captain closes in on 1,000 points
Edmonton superstar Connor McDavid enters the Oilers' game Thursday night against Nashville with 999 points.
Calgary
-
45 cats, 2 dogs rescued from northern Alberta property by Calgary aid agency
Dozens of cats and two dogs have been rescued from rural property by a Calgary-based animal charity.
-
RCMP to announce update to body-worn camera program
RCMP are expected to share details about a nation-wide rollout of a body-worn camera project from Ottawa, the same devices that Calgary police officers have been using for years.
-
WEATHER
WEATHER Mild stretch of weather continues for Calgary
We are almost half way through November and so far overall conditions have been warm and dry. That trend isn’t expected to change anytime soon for southern Alberta.
Lethbridge
-
Lethbridge police say multiple arrests made following 'high-risk incident'
Lethbridge police say a number of arrests have been made following an investigation on Thursday morning.
-
Charges laid in Lethbridge carjacking that saw truck, police cruiser end up in canal
Lethbridge police have charged two people in connection with a weekend carjacking that saw a stolen vehicle driven dangerously throughout the city.
-
Woman wanted by Lethbridge police
Lethbridge police are looking for a woman wanted on outstanding warrants.
Winnipeg
-
Crash on Chief Peguis causing Thursday morning traffic delays
A crash on Chief Peguis Trail is causing Thursday morning traffic delays.
-
'It's great to be a fan in Manitoba': Bombers, Jets success exciting Winnipeg fans
Excitement can be felt throughout Winnipeg these days as both the Winnipeg Jets and Winnipeg Blue Bombers have been dominating.
-
Fog making travel dangerous in southern Manitoba
Commuters are being encouraged to take precautions on Thursday morning as a dense fog is making driving dangerous in southern Manitoba.
Regina
-
Chad Bachynski defeats Sandra Masters to become mayor of Regina
Chad Bachynski will be Regina's next mayor, after defeating incumbent Sandra Masters, who was vying for a second term.
-
Here's a look at Regina's projected new city council
Regina's projected new city council will consist of eight new members with more than a handful of outgoing councillors not seeking re-election and two incumbents being defeated Wednesday night.
-
Civic election results from around southern Saskatchewan
Wednesday, Nov. 13 saw a wave of civic elections across southern Saskatchewan with victories and upsets all over. Here are the preliminary results for some of the smaller urban centres.
Saskatoon
-
Cynthia Block will be Saskatoon's next mayor
Cynthia Block is the 29th mayor of Saskatoon, and the first woman elected to the position in the city's history.
-
Prince Albert elects new mayor after 12 years under Greg Dionne
After 12 years under Greg Dionne, the City of Prince Albert has a new mayor.
-
Assault charge against former Sask. private school employee dropped
A private school employee accused of hitting a seven-year-old student in the head with a relay baton had her assault charge dropped on Wednesday in Saskatoon provincial court.
Toronto
-
Police release bodycam video of officer-involved incident at Hindu temple protest
Police say an officer who forcefully removed a 'weapon' from a protester outside of a Hindu temple in Brampton was acting 'within the lawful execution of his duties' after bystander video of the incident circulated widely online.
-
LIVE UPDATES: Taylor Swift in Toronto for first of 6 sold-out shows
Taylor Swift is in Toronto to perform her first of six sold-out shows at the Rogers Centre tonight.
-
Police to provide update on gun battle outside West Queen West recording studio
Toronto police will be providing an update this morning on the gun battle that erupted in Toronto’s West Queen West neighbourhood on Monday night.
Montreal
-
Police, firefighters respond to train derailment near Montreal; no injuries reported
Police are responding to a derailment at a train yard in Longueuil, Que., on Montreal’s South Shore.
-
Montreal man pricked by dirty needle picking up his keys
A Montreal man was pricked by a dirty needle while picking up his keys that had fallen in a pile of leaves.
-
Quebec online ticket reseller sent 26 fines for allegedly hiking prices
Quebec’s crown prosecutors sent online ticket reseller Billets.ca more than two dozen fines for selling concert tickets at a higher price than the seller authorized.
Ottawa
-
Trump border czar calls eastern Ontario border crossing an 'extreme' security vulnerability
U.S. president-elect Donald Trump's incoming border czar is calling one of Canada's busiest border crossings in eastern Ontario an "extreme vulnerability" for the United States as he intends to crack down on illegal immigration and increase border agents across the U.S.-Canada border.
-
Toronto man charged with uttering threats towards an Ottawa medical clinic, police say
An 18-year-old Toronto man is facing charges after allegedly making hundreds of threats towards a medical clinic operating in the Ottawa suburb of Orleans.
-
OC Transpo scrapping youth discount fares, increasing seniors passes 120% in 2025 budget
OC Transpo is ending the free ride for 11 and 12-year-olds and will be charging youth and seniors more to board the bus and the O-Train in 2025, as part of a five-per-cent hike in the 2025 City of Ottawa budget.
Atlantic
-
NEWNEW Tim Hortons gift card brouhaha shows N.S. electoral officer needs fining power: watchdog
The director of a democracy watchdog says that if Nova Scotia's electoral officer had more power to levy fines, it would discourage situations such as campaign managers giving Tim Hortons gift cards to voters.
-
N.S. election: Liberals promise to improve cellphone service and highways
Nova Scotia's Liberal party is promising to improve cellphone service and invest in major highways if the party is elected to govern on Nov. 26.
-
'I can only turn the thermostat down so low': NB Power customers wait for finer details of incoming rate hike
NB Power says customers should have a better idea soon about how much more they’ll be paying on utility bills, following last week’s approval of a nearly 20 per cent increase over two years.
London
-
Concerns remain as Hydro One identifies a preferred corridor for the St. Thomas EV battery plant
Hydro One has identified a preferred route for a transmission corridor to supply the Volkswagen electric vehicle battery plant in St. Thomas, Ont. While the corridor now appears inevitable, officials are continuing to take feedback on the plan.
-
Needleless insulin device being introduced in Canada on World Diabetes Day
“InsuJet [is] the first device to Canada that actually has no needles,” said Daphne Lapenna of Sol-Millennium Medical Ltd. who is introducing the product to Canada on Thursday evening at Banting House.
-
Jury hears police interview with co-accused recorded days after fatal bush party shooting
Testimony at a London courthouse continued Wednesday, as London Police Detective Jim MacLachlan took the stand in the seventeenth day of evidence in the case of the murder of Josue Silva.
Kitchener
-
Take a look inside Amazon’s new fulfillment centre in Cambridge, Ont.
Amazon says its new fulfillment centre in Cambridge, Ont. is the first-of-its-kind in the country.
-
Toronto teenager charged with first-degree murder in Kitchener, Ont. homicide
A Toronto teen has been charged as part of an investigation into Kitchener, Ont.’s first homicide of 2024.
-
Kitchener, Ont. woman with incurable cancer dies, fight continues to get provincial funding for expensive drug treatment
The family of a young Kitchener woman, who died Sunday from a rare bile duct cancer, is promising her quest to get provincial funding for a drug that helped extend her life will continue.
Northern Ontario
-
South African government says it won't help 4,000 illegal miners inside a closed mine
South Africa's government says it will not help an estimated 4,000 illegal miners inside a closed mine in the country's North West province who have been denied access to basic supplies as part of an official strategy against illegal mining.
-
'Your body, my choice': Attacks on women surge on social media following U.S. election
Sexist and abusive attacks on women, like 'your body, my choice' and 'get back to the kitchen,' have surged across social media since Trump’s reelection.
-
Northern Ontario couple charged in their baby girl's 2022 death
A northern Ontario couple has been charged in the death of their three-month-old baby girl who was found in September 2022 with no vital signs.
N.L.
-
Newfoundland man electrocuted by downed power line, two women injured
Police in Newfoundland say a man was electrocuted Saturday by a downed power wire about 10 kilometres north of St. John's, N.L.
-
What is 'recitation?' Newfoundland tradition-keeper returns to stage from 100-day cancer-treatment isolation
On Thursday morning, Dave Penny officially ended a suggested hundred-day isolation period that followed his diagnosis and stem cell treatment for non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma. On Thursday night, Penny returned to a stage at a downtown St. John's bar, regaling a small crowd with songs and stories with a distinctive Newfoundland flair.
-
Newfoundland beach blobs are plastic pollution, but source remains unknown: scientist
A Memorial University scientist says the mysterious white blobs washing up on Newfoundland beaches are actually gobs of plastic -- and they need to be cleaned up.
