Downtown Lindsay now has a closed-circuit television (CCTV) camera system to enhance public safety.
Operated and maintained by the Lindsay Downtown Business Improvement Association (LDBIA), the CCTV camera system has been funded by the Ontario government through the Kawartha Lakes Police Service, the City of Kawartha Lakes, and LDBIA membership.
“We believe that safety is paramount to revitalizing and enhancing our downtown area,” said LDBIA executive director Melissa McFarland in an LDBIA media release. “The CCTV camera system represents a proactive step towards creating a safer community, where residents can enjoy our local businesses and visitors can explore all that Lindsay has to offer without concern.”
According to the LDBIA, the aim of the CCTV camera system is to deter criminal activity, provide support in emergency situations, and promote a greater sense of security among community members and visitors.
Unlike the CCTV system that was installed in downtown Peterborough last summer, the system in downtown Lindsay will not be operated or maintained by police. The LDBIA owns the equipment and is responsible for maintenance of the network.
The footage captured by the CCTV cameras will not be accessible to the general public, and neither the LDBIA nor Kawartha Lakes police will actively monitor the cameras. However, police will be able to request access to the footage from the LDIBA for the purpose of investigating crimes.
The CCTV camera system provides full coverage of downtown Lindsay, including Kent Street West from Victoria Street to Lindsay Street, as well as north and south coverage from the intersections of Victoria Street and Kent Street, Cambridge Street and Kent Street, William Street and Kent Street, Peel Street and Kent Street, and Lindsay Street and Kent Street.
The estimated total project cost of the CCTV camera system is $80,000.
Last year, the LDIA in partnership with the Kawartha Lakes Police Service procured a grant of $28,902 from the Ontario government’s CCTV grant program, a three-year $6-million program announced in 2020 for police services across the province.
The LDBIA then requested $40,000 in one-time funding the City of Kawartha Lakes. After the LDIA completed a public consultation and presented the results to city council in late 2023, council approved the funding request this past February.
The remaining cost of the CCTV camera system is being funded by LDBIA members.
“As we welcome this new era of safety in Lindsay Downtown, we invite everyone to enjoy the benefits it brings,” reads the LDBIA media release. “Together, we can create a thriving environment where everyone feels secure and supported.”
