Occupational Health & Safety
The District of Hope is committed to maintaining a safe and healthy workplace for employees, contractors, and visitors. The Occupational Health & Safety program supports every department across the organization by helping identify hazards, reduce risk, ensure regulatory compliance, and promote a culture of continuous improvement.
Working closely with the Operations, Fire, and Bylaw departments, the Safety Department provides technical guidance, workplace inspections, incident investigations, employee training, policy development, emergency preparedness planning, and safety audits. It also leads the District's Joint Occupational Health and Safety Committee (JOHSC), helping ensure workplace concerns are identified, addressed, and continually improved.
Through ongoing education, data analysis, and proactive risk management, the District works to prevent injuries, strengthen workplace wellness, and support the safe delivery of municipal services to the community.
Safety Leadership
The District of Hope is proud to foster a culture where safety is a shared responsibility and continuous improvement is part of everyday operations.
In 2025, the District received the British Columbia Municipal Safety Association (BCMSA) Organizational Safety Excellence Award — the highest organizational safety recognition presented by the association. The District was one of only 12 municipalities in British Columbia to receive this distinction.
The District also celebrated Occupational Health & Safety Advisor Mark Howard, recipient of the 2025 BCMSA Occupational Health & Safety Employee of the Year Award, recognizing his leadership, innovation, and dedication to building a strong culture of workplace safety throughout the organization.
Operations Department
The Operations Department is responsible for the essential infrastructure and services that support daily life in the District of Hope. This includes maintaining roads and bridges, caring for parks and public facilities, managing utilities and solid waste, and responding to emergencies such as flooding and winter weather.
The department is organized into several core service areas, including administration, fleet maintenance, transportation, utilities, parks, solid waste, facilities, and infrastructure planning and replacement.
Transportation Safety
The District continues to improve road safety and active transportation throughout the community. Recent work includes the completion of the Richmond Hill Multi-Use Pathway, which created a safer, separated route for pedestrians and cyclists along Flood-Hope Road.
The District has also completed rockfall hazard assessments at priority locations, including Flood-Hope Road, Union Bar Road, and Kawkawa Lake Road. Flood-Hope Road was identified as the highest priority, with recommended safety measures including scaling, selective vegetation removal, rock bolting, and pedestrian safety improvements.
Stormwater and Flood Protection
The District manages stormwater infrastructure that helps protect the community from flooding, erosion, and environmental damage. This includes storm pipes, manholes, catch basins, outfalls, rock pits, and infiltration areas.
In 2025, the District completed the Forrest Crescent culvert replacement at Thacker Creek, improving stormwater capacity during extreme weather events and supporting long-term climate resilience.
Public Works and Community Safety
Operations staff respond to public service requests and after-hours calls related to roads, water, sewer, drainage, trees, flooding concerns, potholes, illegal dumping, snow removal, and other safety-related issues.
Residents are encouraged to report concerns so staff can review and respond appropriately.
Report a Safety Concern
To report a public works or infrastructure-related safety concern, please submit a Service Request or contact the District of Hope.
Operations Office: (604) 869-2333
After-Hours Emergencies: (604) 869-6020
Examples of Concerns to Report
- Flooding or drainage issues
- Potholes or road hazards
- Fallen trees or dangerous branches
- Sidewalk hazards
- Streetlight concerns
- Water or sewer issues
- Snow and ice concerns
- Illegal dumping
Working Together
Community safety is a shared responsibility. By reporting concerns early and staying informed, residents help the District maintain safe roads, public spaces, utilities, and neighbourhoods for everyone.