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Even more cameras will be keeping a watchful eye over the public, as the City’s surveillence of downtown proves to be an effective way to address public safety and protect local businesses.
That was the message from Michael Magnusson, the executive director of the Penticton and Wine Country Chamber of Commerce, during a presentation to Penticton council Tuesday.
Officially called the Remote Guard Camera Program was initiated through the Downtown Penticton Business Improvement Association in 2021 and is now managed by the chamber, with grant funding provided by the City of Penticton.
There are currently 30 cameras installed in 22 locations and they operate between 12 to 24 hours per day, with remote monitoring by a third-party security company at eight locations, said Magnusson.
“The purpose of the program is to enhance community safety and business security, reduce crime and property damage through proactive intervention and support emergency services and community partners and strategically deploy resources using public safety data,” he said.
Privacy has always been and will remain a top priority, he said.
“Cameras are only installed in public areas, where there is no reasonable expectation of privacy, along with signage,” he said. “Incident reports and video associated with serious incidents are securely stored and managed in accordance with applicable privacy legislation.
“Access to footage is tightly controlled and is only provided to the RCMP for investigations when supported by a valid police file number.”
The City of Penticton’s role is limited to providing funding to support the program and forwarding public safety data and no one on staff has access to video footage of the day-to-day operations of the camera program, he said.
During the first quarter of 2026, the program identified 233 total incidents, with the overwhelming majority (220) being for public loitering, said Magnusson.
Three incidents of vandalism and property damage were caught on video, another seven involved trespassing on private property and three where fires were started and extinguished.
A total of 59 calls for service were made to the RCMP in the first quarter based on video evidence.
“Serious incidents remained infrequent, suggesting early intervention continues to be effective,” said Magnusson.
One of the most successful aspects of the program in the first three months of 2026 was the growing partnership between this program and the Compass Court Neighbourhood Watch program, which began responding to loitering calls around their facility, he said.
In the first 10 days of February, the RCMP were called 22 times for loitering complaints outside the Compass Court facility, which was “simply unsustainable,” he said.
The Neighbourhood Watch team responded to 116 calls between Feb. 10 and March 31, dropping the calls for service to the RCMP down to only two.
“This partnership has significantly reduced demand on police resources, while ensuring concerns are still addressed before activity can escalate into something more serious.”
A total of 66 incidents were reported in the downtown core in the first quarter, while the remaining 167 calls occurred along Main Street and within the city’s industrial park area, he said.
These numbers help identify trends to appropriately disperse resources and determine where future camera deployments would have their greatest impact, he said.
The cameras provide real time impact when serious situations arise, like fires, he said.
Tracking incidents as they take place helps emergency responders get to scenes quicker, reducing risks to people, businesses and property.
As the second quarter continues, new locations for camera installation are being prepared in the industrial district, Main Street corridor and Lakeshore Avenue corridor.
“Our priorities for the remainder of 2026 are pretty straightforward,” said Magnusson. “We will continue emphasizing proactive deterrence, monitoring emerging locations throughout the city, evaluate seasonal trends through future reporting and continue building partnerships that help reduce pressure on the RCMP, while improving community safety outcomes.”
Feedback from participating property owners remains valuable, many who have commented the cameras assist with tackling concerning activity, but also improve perceptions of safety for tenants, customers and property owners, he said.
The program continues to provide tangible benefits to the community by enhancing safety to business owners and public at large, said Magnusson.
Data gathered during the first quarter again verify the goal of the program is achieving its intended outcome and objectives, he said.
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