A welcoming sign, an open door, a welcoming gesture — and perhaps contact with a peace officer or a Mountie.
A new program to help victims of crime or anyone in distress is now in effect in Lac La Biche County. The Safe Place program is involving area businesses, schools and organizations as a possible first contact for anyone feeling harassed bullied or suffering any kind of distress.
The program, which will begin today (Tuesday) will see area businesses and organizations displaying Safe Place signage at the buildings to indicate they are prepared to help anyone in distress.
Lac La Biche County peace officer and school resource officer Glynton Brittain said the February 26 start date is intentional as it falls just before Pink Shirt Day, the nationally recognized day for anti-bullying awareness in schools. Officials with all three school divisions that oversee schools in the region are on board with the idea, and already have Safe Place posters and stickers on their front doors. The Safe Place program, Brittain says, takes the school theme into the whole community.
"It's for anyone in our community that is being attacked or abused with any kind of hate crime or abuse ... or if they require medical attention," Brittain told Lac La Biche County councillors at a recent council meeting where he discussed the program.
The origins of the program go back six years, the peace officer said, to the Seattle Police Department and their campaign within the city to help members of the LGBTQ community find safety if they felt threatened. As the program progressed, it expanded to includes all hate crimes and anyone in distress. In 2016, the Vancouver Police began a similar program and Brittain helped to spearhead another program with the RCMP in Surrey. The RCMP in Lac La Biche are also onside with the program.
No Safety threat
Brittain understands that some residents may be uncomfortable getting involved with people in distress, but he emphasizes that the help provided by businesses and other Safe Place locations is little more than opening a door. No Safe Place participant is expected to put themselves in harm's way.
"If someone comes in that becomes disruptive, they don't have to keep them there. They can just call the peace officers or RCMP," Brittain said, explaining that the idea is to provide he foundation of being a safe and caring community by offering shelter to those in need and providing another layer of community involvement for law enforcement and community safety. "The business people... don't need to be getting deep into it ... If someone comes in and they need a safe place, then just calls us to tell us what has happened."
The Safe Place campaign is the first of its kind for Alberta.
"No community in Alberta has done this so far," said Brittain.https://www.laclabichecounty.com/our-services/peace-officers/safe-place-program
Business owners wanting to take part in the program can click here or call 780-623-767
