June 1, 2023

Safety and well-being of Greater Victoria School District students

VICTORIA, BC – On Tuesday, May 30, 2023, the Greater Victoria School District sent a letter to families of all District secondary students addressing the issue of youth engaging in activities that may lead to potential gang involvement.

This letter was sent out of an abundance of caution and to encourage families to take proactive steps to ensure their children’s safety and well-being if they suspect their child may be involved in gang related activities. Regional police departments recently shared information with Districts, including Independent schools, in the South Island Region about gang recruitment and increased youth violence; this letter was sent to provide families with the information and possible supports if they notice any concerning behaviour with their child. The letter does not refer to any specific incident or incidents occurring in our district’s schools.

The Greater Victoria School District strives to provide our students with guidance and support as they grow towards young adulthood. We are committed to keeping lines of communication open to address this issue and other issues proactively and to keep our school and community environments safe for our students to learn, grow, and thrive.

-30-

For more information contact:

Communications & Community Engagement
Greater Victoria School District
community@sd61.bc.ca
Office: 250.475.3212