About us - West End - Coal Harbour Community Policing Centre

Who are we?

Located under the big yellow awning at the corner of Davie and Jervis, in the heart of the Davie Village, we’re a volunteer-driven, not-for-profit organization providing services, resources, and education focused on creating a safer, more inclusive community in the West End and Coal Harbour neighbourhoods.

Our service catchment comprises the West End and Coal Harbour neighbourhoods of Vancouver, west from Burrard Street to Stanley Park.

With the support of the Vancouver Police Department, our mandate is to:
– Educate visitors, residents, and businesses on crime prevention planning and activities
– Offer information and referral services
– Facilitate interaction between police and the public on issues related to crime and personal safety

WECHCPC is one of thirteen CPCs in the City of Vancouver. Two CPCs serve the Aboriginal and Chinese communities, respectively; and all but two CPCs are independently-operated. Find out more about the CPCs and our relationship with our VPD partners here:

Community Policing Centers

How do we do our work?

Information services

Obtain information, resources, services, and referrals from our storefront office

Outreach and Education

Find out about our community pop-ups, presentations and consultations, and other public events and activities

Citizen Patrols

Learn about our foot, bike, and pooch patrols; and what our volunteers do on-shift

Our History

1997

In response to rising issues with street disorder, shoplifting, and thefts from vehicles, local neighbours band together to establish the Davie Street Community Police Centre, located on the main floor of 1122 Bute St in the Mole Hill Housing Co‑op. The first Neighbourhood Police Officers assigned were Csts. Steve Gibson, Warren Lemcke, and Kinder Sandhu. The first coordinator, Peter Symons, still volunteers with us to this day.

1122 Bute Street – original CPC location

2001

With the renovation of the Mole Hill site in 2001, the CPC was offered space by the Davie St. Shoppers Drug Mart. Accessible through a set of storage room doors from the inside of Shoppers, and from an outdoor entrance in the west parking lot, it was bright and more modern than the Mole Hill office. Csts. Brian Green and Steve Rai (now Chief Constable of the VPD) were NPOs during this time.

2005

The West End CPC (located in the West End Community Centre), Waterfront CPC and Davie Street CPC amalgamated to form the West End–Coal Harbour Community Policing Centre. The name change reflected the larger catchment, which grew to include the West End west of Nicola St. and north of Nelson St.; as well as the new housing developments of Coal Harbour.

2007

The CPC found a new home in the heart of the Davie Village, at 1267 Davie St., next to what was then the Super‑Valu (now Your Independent Grocer). This would be the home of WECHCPC for the next fifteen years.

2010

Aleya Trott is hired as Executive Director, a position she would go on to hold for twelve years, helping build the programming and reputation of the organization throughout the West End and the City of Vancouver.

2022

WECHCPC celebrated its 25th anniversary, with a move to its present location at the corner of Davie and Jervis, under the big yellow awning. On the strengths of the long‑term volunteers and the eagerness of the new recruits, the CPC continues as a crucial component to addressing the crime and safety needs of the West End, Coal Harbour, and Stanley Park.

Current WECHCPC location at Davie and Jervis

Our Board of Directors (2025-26)

WECHCPC is governed by a nine-member Board of Directors, comprised of volunteers of varied skills, representing our diverse community. Directors are elected for two-year terms annually by CPC members (our volunteers).