Courtenay council has received year-end activity reports from both the Comox Valley RCMP and the Courtenay Fire Department, outlining public safety trends from 2025.

The Comox Valley RCMP quarterly report covering October through December 2025 shows overall calls for service in Courtenay were down two percent in 2025 compared to 2024, continuing a gradual downward trend over the past year.

The report was presented to council by Inspector Scott Mercer and provided an overview of policing activity, crime trends, and public safety priorities.

While total calls declined, the RCMP reported increases in certain types of files, including breaches related to court-issued warrants, some violent crime categories, and drug trafficking investigations.

Property crime remained relatively stable, with mischief accounting for the largest share. Council was also briefed on higher call-volume locations, downtown activity, traffic-related offences, and enforcement efforts targeting impaired and dangerous driving.

Council also received the Courtenay Fire Department’s 2025 Annual Report, which shows the department responded to 1,306 calls for service last year, a modest decrease from 2024.

The decline was largely attributed to fewer ambulance assist calls and open burning responses.

Despite the lower call volume, the fire department noted an increase in incident complexity, reflected in higher volunteer response hours and continued growth in calls east of the Courtenay River.

The report highlights more than 13,700 volunteer response hours and over 4,900 training hours completed across fire suppression, rescue, and medical response.

Fire prevention and public education efforts expanded in 2025, with more than 1,800 inspections and 190 community education events delivered.

The department also supported regional wildfire response and emergency operations outside municipal boundaries.

Looking ahead, the fire department’s priorities include continued progress on the East Side Fire Hall project, wildfire preparedness, and adapting to evolving provincial emergency management legislation.