Chilliwack RCMP introduce Safe Place Program to assist LGBT people

    1 of 1 2 of 1

      A Fraser Valley city is the latest B.C. municipality that the RCMP is introducing the Safe Place Program to.

      The Safe Place Program involves businesses, schools, or institutions displaying a rainbow-coloured badge in a window or door. The decals indicate that if an LGBT person feels unsafe due to experiencing discrimination or hate crimes, they will be welcome to remain at the venue while calling police and waiting there until officers arrive.

      Participants must sign an agreement to provide a safe place for LGBT community members, and then post the decal in a place visible from the exterior.

      Today (August 21), RCMP announced the implementation of the program in Chilliwack. Those interested in participating in the Chilliwack Safe Place Program can contact Const. Isabelle Christensen at 604-393-3000.

      The program began in Seattle in May 2015 and was introduced by the Vancouver Police Department in August 2016.

      In January, Prince Rupert became the first Canadian community in Canada to have an RCMP Safe Place program.

      Other B.C. towns and cities that implemented RCMP Safe Place Programs this year include Langley and Mission in March, Sunshine Coast in May, and Fort St. John and Cranbrook in July.

      According to a 2017 Statistics Canada report, hate crimes against LGBT people in Canada rose from 141 in 2015 to 176 in 2016, with 11 of the latter occurring in B.C. 

      You can follow Craig Takeuchi on Twitter at @cinecraig or on Facebook. You can also follow the Straight's LGBT coverage on Twitter at @StraightLGBT or on Facebook.

      Comments