Tofino Volunteer Fire Department Service Levels Update

Staff provided an update on changes made last year to reduce the number of medical First Responder calls attended by the Tofino Volunteer Fire Department in response to rising call volumes and concerns about volunteer burnout. Since the change, TVFD has not attended 154 “Red” medical calls and has responded to 133 calls overall to date, representing approximately a 50% reduction compared with last year. Staff also reported that average firefighter attendance per call has increased, helping maintain a strong response when the department is dispatched. The one-year pilot was originally introduced to reduce automatic response to most “Red” calls while continuing to attend when BC Emergency Health Services is delayed or specifically requests assistance.

Priority Childcare Placement Policy

Staff presented a proposed policy for development related to priority childcare placement at the t̓aatn̓aʔałuk Taking Care of Children Centre as another tool to support recruitment and retention in Tofino’s childcare and health care sectors.

Staff highlighted ongoing staffing challenges at the Centre, including 26 recruitment processes between 2023 and 2026 and only one eight-month period of full staffing during that time.

Following Committee discussion and feedback, staff were authorized to return to Council with a draft Priority Childcare Placement Policy for consideration. The framework staff presented would allow eligible District childcare staff, Tofino General Hospital employees, and primary care providers serving Tofino to be considered for priority placement, subject to available spaces and program requirements.

Stormwater Master Plan

The Committee received Tofino’s first comprehensive Stormwater Master Plan for information. The Plan assesses the condition, capacity, ownership, and risk of the community’s stormwater system and identifies areas where drainage improvements, maintenance, and future infrastructure investment may be needed.

The Plan will help guide future development review, capital planning, coordination with the Ministry of Transportation and Transit, and the District’s ongoing asset management work. Future projects and funding decisions identified through the Plan will come forward through future financial planning processes.

Read the Plan | Talk Tofino