Operational Planning

The Operational Planning Unit is under the Emergency and Operational Planning Section (EOPS) formerly known as the Operational Auxiliary Section (OAS). The Vancouver Police Department provides services to special event organizers in the community by assisting in planning, security, staffing deployment, and traffic control for special events. The purpose of this site is: to provide information on how to apply to hold a special event in the City of Vancouver, to inform the community of the procedures and permits that may apply to the event, and to facilitate communication and feedback with the community in regards to special events planning.

All Special Events applications are submitted to the City of Vancouver, City Hall, Film and Special Event Coordination Office at 453 West 12th Avenue, Vancouver, BC. Please use the links above for more information on the application process for non-profit events, Late Night Dance Events, filming in Vancouver and Special Occasion Licences. What is a Special Event? Special Events include: Marches, parades, walks, runs Demonstrations, protests Festivals, concerts Ceremonial and fund raising events Sporting events Late Night dance events Filming Other occasions that may require police presence.

The Vancouver Police Department may offer a $500 grant to non-profit organizations and events to offset policing costs incurred during a special event. Event organizers must go through the application process and meet with the FEST Committee to qualify for the grant. The Festival Expediting Staff Team (FEST) Committee includes representatives of the Engineering Department (as chairperson), Police Department, Park Board, and Coast Mountain Bus Company. Staff from other civic departments and external agencies will be invited as required, particularly in those instances where jurisdictions overlap. The committee acts as a source of information on City regulations and bylaws and coordinates input from all appropriate departments and agencies. The committees goal is to support events and help organizers minimize the impact events have on the community and to establish conditions of approval. Approval of most events is given directly by the FEST Committee although larger events may need approval of the appropriate Committee of Council. The Planning Process The planning process starts with notification of an event. Organizations wishing to hold an event should start by submitting an application to hold an event in the City of Vancouver to City Hall, Special Events Office, 453 West 12th Avenue, Vancouver, BC. The application then is assigned to an Event Planner, where the event is logged, assessed and the involved agencies are notified. The Vancouver Police Department, EOP Section, also logs the event, assesses and assigns a planner in cooperation with City Hall. The Police Planner contacts the person/organizer listed on the application and checks any previous history of the event. Once event applications are reviewed an organization may be required to attend a meeting with the FEST Committee. The City of Vancouver Festival Expediting Staff Team (FEST) Committee holds a meeting to discuss the requirements and impact of the event on the city. The Committee is chaired by the engineering department and attended by the Police Planner, Fire Planner, Engineering Planner, Health Department, Social Planning, Risk and Emergency Management, Transit, BC Ambulance and the event organizer or promoter. The Police Event planner will then arrange the necessary Police resources and may offer a $500 grant to cover the first $500 of any policing costs. From this process, the plan for the event is created.