City of Saint John Launches Community Safety and Security Team Pilot Program and Community Resilience Fund

The City of Saint John is moving forward with a two-year pilot program to introduce a Community Safety and Security (CSS) Team, a visible, non-police presence dedicated to enhancing safety and resilience in Waterloo Village, Uptown, and around local shelter areas.

The City is also launching a Community Resilience Fund to support small businesses across Saint John.

CSS Team will run 24 hours a day, seven days a week, maintaining a proactive on-the-ground presence and responding to non-emergency concerns.

Their role focuses on voluntary compliance, respectful de-escalation, and education, helping public spaces remain safe and welcoming for all residents.

The CSS Team will provide an approachable presence in the community and involve Police, Outreach, EMS, or other City services only when necessary.

Mayor Donna Noade Reardon said, “This initiative reflects our commitment to building safer, more inclusive public spaces. The CSS Team will provide a consistent presence in areas most affected by disorder, while working respectfully with vulnerable populations. By combining prevention, education, and collaboration, we are strengthening community confidence and resilience.”

Chief Robert M. Bruce of the Saint John Police Force added, “The Saint John Police work closely with all our community partners including outreach and city services. The Community Safety and Security Team are not police officers and will not engage in law enforcement duties. We all share a collective responsibility in keeping our community, safe, secure, and healthy.”

CSS members will receive training in Narcan administration, mental health awareness, trauma‑informed practice, and respectful de‑escalation, equipping them to support residents and connect people with appropriate services.

Community Resilience Fund – Applications Now Open

As part of the City’s two‑year pilot program, the Community Resilience Fund has been launched to support small businesses and non‑profit organizations in managing the impacts of crime and visible disorder. The Fund provides financial assistance for prevention, response, and recovery measures, helping organizations strengthen safety and resilience in their operations and communities.

Through this initiative, eligible applicants may receive up to $7,500 per year to offset costs related to property damage, enhanced security, and resilience‑building projects. In addition to individual grants, the program offers funding of up to $25,000 for collective projects, available to the Uptown Saint John Business Improvement Association or groups of four or more small businesses applying jointly. These collective efforts are intended to encourage collaboration and create safer, more inclusive public spaces.

Funding is provided on a cost‑sharing basis. Small businesses may receive grants covering 50 percent of eligible expenses, while non‑profit organizations may receive up to 75 percent, with applicants contributing the remaining share.

Eligibility extends to registered small businesses operating within Saint John city limits, with priority directed toward areas identified for enhanced support, including Waterloo Village, Rothesay Avenue, Thorne Avenue, and Uptown Saint John. Non‑profit organizations, commercial property owners leasing to small businesses, the Uptown Saint John Business Improvement Association, and mixed‑use developments under construction are also eligible to apply.

Applications will be accepted twice a year during the pilot period, with grants awarded in April and September.

Round One is now open and applications will be accepted until March 31, 2026. Eligible expenses for this round include costs incurred between September 1, 2025 and March 31, 2026.For full program details and application guidelines, click HERE.

Nancy Tissington, Executive Director of Uptown Saint John Inc., emphasized the importance of this initiative, “The newly created Community Safety and Security Team, in conjunction with this Community Resilience Fund, represents a meaningful step forward for our city. It will be well received not only by the more than 500 businesses we represent through Uptown Saint John but also by the residents who live in and around our vibrant neighbourhoods. We applaud the City of Saint John for working collaboratively with community leaders to make this grant a reality. On behalf of our Board and our membership, we are grateful for this progress.”

Together, the CSS Team and Community Resilience Fund represent a holistic approach to community safety, balancing immediate response with long-term prevention and resilience.

The CSS Team will begin its work early February 2026.

Visit Shape Your City Saint John for full information on both programs.