PROGRAMS

Oceanside Community Safety’s Traffic Watch program covers three separate activities, Cell Watch, Intersection Watch and Speed Watch.

To request more information about these programs, please select the Speed Watch category on our Contact Form.

To request a Speed Watch deployment in your neighbourhood, please submit a Speed Watch Deployment Request.

Cell Watch

Volunteers survey passing traffic, watching the drivers for acts of distracted driving such as texting, talking on a hand held cell phone, having an animal on their lap or eating. The data collected is shared with the RCMP, ICBC and may be found on this web site.

Intersection Watch

Volunteers observe drivers at an intersection to check compliance with traffic laws and remind drivers of their obligations. The data collected is shared with the RCMP.

Speed Watch

Speeding in residential neighbourhoods is one of the most frequent concerns of the RCMP. Speed Watch encourages residents to become involved in addressing speeding problems. Often motorists who speed in residential areas are unaware of the effect their actions have on the peace and safety of those streets. Speed Watch is a public awareness program in which concerned citizens can take an active role in solving the speeding issue by raising the public awareness of the actual speed motorists are travelling.

Block Watch is a program of  neighbours helping neighbours. The Block Watch Program is a FREE community-based crime prevention program administered by Oceanside Community Safety and Oceanside RCMP. Residents on a street or in a strata form a communication chain, aided by a block map of names, telephone numbers, and addresses. They make a commitment to watch out for each other’s homes, and report suspicious activities to the police and to each other. They also keep each other informed about neighbourhood occurrences, burglary, thefts, and other crimes or problems occurring on their street.

What is the 529 Garage Bicycle Registration Program?

It is a cloud based bicycle registration program. Registering your bike is critical to ensure you have the information needed by law enforcement, insurance and the community to help recover a lost bike.

The 529 Shield’s unique ID makes it easy to contact you if your bike is recovered.

The 529 Shield sticker provides an additional unique identifier for your bike, making it easy for law enforcement and unknowing buyers trace back to you if it is ever stolen.

The physical presence on the bike of the 529 Garage Shield acts as a deterrent to thieves knowing it can be traced.

The 529 Shield retails on Amazon.ca for $12.99 each plus taxes and shipping.

Oceanside Community Safety will provide the shield to you for FREE.

How do I Register my Bicycle?

Use the following link: https://project529.com/garage/users/sign_in

Once you have joined, contact our Parksville Office (250-954-2223) to make sure that a volunteer will be present to issue your free shield TUESDAYS between 10 AM to 12:00 noon.

Useful Links:

For more information, please contact info@oceansidecsv.org

Overview:

The Community Safety Offices are proud to offer engravers to members of the general public, free of charge. Engraving valuables is a deterrent to burglars, increases your chance of getting items returned after theft and enables police to identify items as stolen which could lead to arrest.

Operational:

Should a member of the public want to borrow an engraver, they need to be informed of the following:

  • Always use your BC Drivers Licence # or BC Identification #
  • Never use your Social Insurance Number (not police traceable)
  • Engrave in two places on each item as clearly as possible

Children are our greatest resource!

The CHILD IDENTIFICATION program provides the parent or guardian of a child with a booklet containing the child’s fingerprints, and space to include pertinent information about the child–i.e. colour of eyes and hair, birthmarks or scars. It is suggested that the parent include a new photo each year. A small plastic seal able bag is included in which the parent will place a few hairs (with roots) to be used for DNA purposes. We recommend that the parent keep this form in a safe place, and that it be included in any papers that they might take when on vacation with the child.

Fingerprinting records important information about your child which law enforcement will need should your child ever go missing. You are encouraged to keep an up to date photo as well as height and weight information. Only one copy of the fingerprint folder exists. It stays with the parent and if a child goes missing it can help the authorities in tracing him/her. Very small children (babies) have their full hand or foot print taken.

The program is also a great way to introduce and remind your child about safety tips they should keep in mind when dealing with strangers, the internet, and abduction situations. The more familiar your child is with these techniques, through reminders and role playing with parents, the less likely they will find themselves in a dangerous situation.

Although our fingerprints remain the same through out our lives, they also become clearer after the age of 7, so repeating the fingerprinting process yearly is a good practice.

Call your local community safety office for more information, or call the office to when the next fingerprint session is going on in your area.

Silver Alert!

If you have a senior family member that may be having difficulty managing themselves and might wander, consider picking up an Identification Kit and completing it for them. If they do wander, all the information necessary to support a successful search will be contained in the kit.

Remember to fingerprint now…. You can’t do it later.

Our Community Watch volunteer teams observe and report suspicious activities to the police.

Bicycle Patrols

This is a new initiative for our group. Patrols by bicycle are now being done in Parksville and Qualicum Beach.

Foot Patrols

Volunteers participate in foot patrols, park watch, ICBC campaigns and assist in many community events. Volunteers also respond when requested by RCMP and other agencies.

Vehicle Patrols

consist of two member volunteers who, on a four hour shift cover various areas in the District of Oceanside, looking for illegal activities.

Response

Members do not get directly involved if an offense is witnessed, nor do they exit their vehicles unless directed by a police officer. IF they see something suspicious, they make a note of it in their patrol report and if appropriate contact the police to deal with it.

Our safety policy is to protect our members first, enabling people of all ages to participate.

More Information

communitywatch@oceansidecsv.org

The KIT Program provides a person with the security of knowing that each day a volunteer of the Oceanside Community Safety  will be telephoning to ensure their well being.

For Clients:

The program is designed to assist seniors who may be concerned about having a fall or a sudden illness and being in need of help. KIT is a wonderful program for individuals who live alone, possibly with medical issues, or those recovering from surgery or a hospital stay.

Oceanside Community Safety members call KIT clients every day, between 9 and 10 a.m. to check in and ensure they are OK. If there is no answer after two tries, a backup system goes into effect to determine if help is needed.

Every year all the KIT clients are invited to a tea and luncheon where they can meet the volunteers that call them daily.

If you or a person you know would like to be on the KIT list, please contact us by e-mail: kit@oceansidecsv.org. There is no fee for this community service program and new clients are always welcome.

Applications:

Keeping In Touch Program Application Printable Form

Keeping in Touch Program Application On Line

For Volunteers:

KIT volunteers make calls to KIT clients one day each week, including holidays if they should fall on your calling day. Calls may be made from your home or one of our Community Safety Offices in Parksville or Qualicum Beach.

If you would like to inquire about becoming a KIT volunteer, please e-mail kit@oceansidecsv.org for more information.

Overview:

The Community Safety Offices are proud to offer engravers to members of the general public, free of charge. Engraving valuables is a deterrent to burglars, increases your chance of getting items returned after theft and enables police to identify items as stolen which could lead to arrest.

Operational:

Should a member of the public want to borrow an engraver, they need to be informed of the following:

  • Always use your BC Drivers Licence # or BC Identification #
  • Never use your Social Insurance Number (not police traceable)
  • Engrave in two places on each item as clearly as possible

Free Safety Seminars

Oceanside Community Safety Volunteers are proud to offer safety seminars. Service Clubs, Church groups, Care Facilities, or any other gathering of Seniors, caregivers, or interested citizens can take advantage of the educational opportunity.

Seminars contain the following information:

Financial Safety and Counterfeits

  • Who commits fraud
  • Why seniors are targeted
  • Types of fraud
  • How to keep your personal information safe
  • Information about counterfeit currency and credit cards
  • What to do if it happens to you
  • Credit Reports
  • Reference sheet with pertinent contact phone numbers

Frauds and Scams

  • Tactics used by con artists
  • Why seniors are targets
  • Types of scams
  • Who commits fraud
  • Ways to prevent scams
  • Reporting Crime – what you will need
  • What to do if it happens to you
  • Contact information

Internet and Cyber Crime

  • Computer crimes
  • Malicious software – viruses and spyware
  • Internet Crime and facebook
  • Ways to protect yourself

Elder Abuse

  • What is Elder Abuse
  • Information on the Abused and the Abuser
  • Signs of Abuse
  • Forms of Intervention
  • Resources

To register, or for further information, please contact our Safety Seminar Co-ordinator:

E-mail: seminars@oceansidecsv.org

You may also contact either Oceanside Community Safety offices by telephone.