Victoria’s new police chief says she will apply lessons from Vancouver

VICTORIA — Victoria’s new police chief, Fiona Wilson, says she will apply lessons from Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside to the most downtrodden community in the provincial capital, but acknowledges she still has much to learn about her new post.

Wilson says a personal tour of Victoria’s Pandora Avenue has reminded her “a lot of some of the challenges” she has witnessed as an officer working in the Vancouver neighbourhood grappling with homelessness, poverty, addiction and crime.

Wilson says Victoria is a “really small microcosm” of the challenges Vancouver has faced, but adds it is a diverse community and she looks forward to learning more about the department and its service area, which also includes Esquimalt.

Wilson’s appointment as Victoria’s new police chief was announced in April 2025, replacing Del Manak, who officially handed out over his command during a ceremony Thursday at the formal residence of Lt. Governor Wendy Cocchia.

Wilson previously served for 27 years with the Vancouver Police Department, where she rose to the rank of deputy chief before taking the top job in Victoria.

Manak, who became chief in 2017, is retiring after 35 years in policing, including 32 years with the Victoria Police Department.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 28, 2025.

Wolfgang Depner, The Canadian Press