British ColumbiaThe Victoria Police Department spent more than $22,000 in public funds on a celebration that honoured its outgoing and incoming police chiefs, according to a freedom of information request.Police board chair says event was one-time expense to celebrate VicPD’s first female chiefEmily Fagan · CBC News · Posted: Oct 29, 2025 12:57 PM EDT | Last Updated: October 29Listen to this articleEstimated 5 minutesFormer Victoria police chief Del Manak spoke at the event celebrating his retirement in August, with politicians including Victoria Mayor Marianne Alto and Esquimalt Mayor Barb Desjardins in attendance. (Victoria Police Department/YouTube)The Victoria Police Department spent more than $22,000 in public funds on a celebration for its outgoing and incoming police chiefs this summer, according to documents obtained through a freedom of information request (FOI).The private, 300-person event on Aug. 28 marked the departure of longtime Victoria police chief Del Manak and the swearing-in of the force’s new leader, Chief Fiona Wilson. Those in attendance included politicians, members of the policing community and Indigenous community members, who gathered for a series of speeches and performances.The expense comes amid what a Victoria councillor calls “belt-tightening” efforts in the region, but also additional municipal spending on police, aimed at increasing public safety, and plans from the police board to request a nearly 10 per cent budget increase.The FOI was filed by Stephen Harrison, a Victoria resident who regularly attends police board meetings and shares the information in blog and social media posts.Harrison said he was surprised to see how high the final cost of the event was, after hearing it mentioned at a meeting in September.“I don’t think it’s a responsible use of public funding,” he said.Victoria and Esquimalt Police Board chair Micayla Hayes said in a statement that the budget for the ceremony was made in consultation with the police board, and that the cost “reflects a reasonable allocation” relative to similar policing events in the province.“The event marked a historic milestone for the department — welcoming Chief Constable Fiona Wilson, the first female Chief in VicPD’s 168-year history, and honouring the distinguished career of Retired Chief Constable Del Manak,” she wrote.Hayes noted that the board has not received any direct complaints about the event.“The budget was designed to ensure the event appropriately marked the transition between chiefs while maintaining fiscal responsibility and transparency,” Hayes wrote.A table from a freedom of information request detailing how much was spent on the Aug. 28 event. (Image from Freedom of Information Request)Victoria Mayor Marianne Alto and Esquimalt Mayor Barb Desjardins, whose communities are served by the VicPD and both attended the event, were not available to comment for this story, according to their communications staff. Victoria Coun. Dave Thompson said that the city and Capital Regional District have been going through “belt-tightening” processes, in an effort to keep spending down amid cost of living concerns. “I hope and trust VicPD will be taking the same approach, but council really has limited influence over police budgets,” he said.The City of Victoria is also in the midst of a campaign to address “public disorder” in the downtown core, which it has committed $10.35 million to, including $1.35 million to hire nine new police officers.The Victoria Police Department, funded by the municipalities of Victoria and Esquimalt, has a $78.9 million budget. A 2023 report by the Ministry of Public Safety found that, at $598 per resident, it cost the most per capita of any police department in the province.In a meeting last week, the Victoria Police Board discussed plans to request a 9.82 per cent budget increase to $86 million. The increase included funds for hiring eight new patrol and traffic officers, for investing in technology to support policing, and to cover inflationary costs.The change of command event, Hayes said, was a “once-in-a-generation milestone” and a one-time expense.The majority of the funds went towards renting Government House, the historic mansion that is the official residence of B.C.’s lieutenant governor. To host the celebration there, the VicPD paid $13,750.Hayes said the location was chosen because it is a “dignified and accessible” setting that reflected the provincial significance of the event. The board compared the cost of hosting the event at other potential venues, and found the prices comparable, she added.“We understand and respect that affordability is a concern across the community and that public funds must be managed carefully,” she wrote.“This event was delivered responsibly, with costs limited to what was necessary to appropriately recognize the transition in leadership.”Fiona Wilson, Victoria’s police chief, was sworn in on Aug. 28 at Government House in Victoria. (Kathryn Marlow/CBC)VicPD paid $4,097 for certain officers to staff the ceremony, and $1,331 for a shuttle bus to transport officers between VicPD headquarters and the venue.The force provided a summary of the event expenses in the FOI.A professional videographer was hired to record a live-stream of the event, which streamed for just under an hour and a half, costing $1,968.The ceremony was blessed by an elder from the Songhees Nation, and both the Lekwungen Traditional Dancers and local vocalist Stephanie Greaves performed at the event. In total, $600 was spent on honorariums for performers. The celebration featured speeches from Lieutenant-Governor Wendy Cocchia, VicPD community engagement director Cheryl Major, Hayes, Manak and Wilson, according to the event’s programs — which were printed at a cost of $266.
Victoria police spent $22K on party for outgoing, incoming chiefs
