Safe and Well Oxford

Wednesday, 16 September 2020 at 07:41

Safe and Well Oxford is looking to find solutions to some of the biggest problems we face in the community.

OXFORD COUNTY - Safe and Well Oxford is a new partnership featuring all of the municipalities in Oxford County.

This includes the Townships of Blandford-Blenheim, East ZorraTavistock, Norwich, Zorra and Southwest Oxford, together with the Town of Ingersoll, the Town of Tillsonburg, and the City of Woodstock.

This new project is designed to understand the different problems facing urban and rural communities. It looks to focus on the complex issues that put a strain on healthcare and social systems, protective services, and overall community health and well-being.

As part of the Police Services Act, municipalities are required to develop and adopt a Community Safety & Well-being Plan by 2021 that addresses priority community risks with proactive, integrated strategies.

The municipalities are working with an advisory committee with representation from police and local service providers in health / mental health, education, community and social services, and children and youth services to create a plan to
improve the overall well-being of their communities and enhance the lives of residents.

South-West Oxford Mayor David Mayberry says the unprecedented situation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic underscores the need to plan for and protect the health, resiliency and vitality of community and economic systems.

“Our hope for this plan is to help create safer, healthier and more vibrant communities across Oxford, which is more important today than ever before. That’s why we want to hear from our local community members. It’s important that our residents participate and share their insights so we can understand their concerns and hopes for their local community and the county overall, in particular as we work together to deal with the challenges of COVID-19.”

From September to December 2020, residents from Blandford-Blenheim, East ZorraTavistock, Ingersoll, Norwich, Tillsonburg, Woodstock, Zorra and South-West Oxford are invited to participate through a survey.

Residents from municipalities across Oxford can take the short survey and learn more at: safewelloxford.ca.