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After success in centres such as Seattle and Vancouver, the Kelowna RCMP is embracing the establishment of "safe places" in the city.
After being contacted by the RCMP, Councillor Loyal Wooldridge offered his hair salon to be the first business to take on the designation in Kelowna.
A Safe Place offers the LGBTQ2S+ community shelter if they are feeling unsafe, and shows that a business is a welcoming place where they can seek help and safely wait for police.
"When we look at underrepresented voices in our community," said Wooldridge, "not just the LGBTQ2S+ community, but folks of colour as well, that there still is a need to come together as a community to show our support and solidarity."
Wooldridge said it's also an important conversation starter. "It brings this conversation to the forefront. And it's not just something of yesterday," he added. "It's still something we have to continue to focus on today."
The first-term city councillor had no problem coming up with an example.
"About a year and a half ago, somebody that I know personally, he's a trans youth and was on public transit and was subject to verbal and then physical abuse," explained Wooldridge.
"Especially the trans community is very, very highly victimized by crime," agreed Constable Robyn Buffy of the Kelowna RCMP. "And we need to address that."
Boffy suggested these cases happen more than you might think. "And more so upsetting is that it's vastly underreported to the police because they often don't feel comfortable reporting to us," she acknowledged.
"So we would like them to know that we are very open to talking to them and helping them feel safe in Kelowna."
The plan is to get numerous businesses involved and displaying a decal on their place of business ensuring that it's a Safe Place.
Interested businesses are encouraged to contact the Kelowna RCMP or Constable Boffy via email. Robyn.Boffy@rcmp-grc.gc.ca
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