Calgary street harassment bylaw approved by council
Posted Mar 9, 2022 12:15 pm.
Last Updated Mar 10, 2022 9:53 am.
Calgary city councillors have unanimously approved a new bylaw that establishes fines for street harassment.
Fines of $500 can be issued for the offences, which are described as incidents when a person is targeted in reference to their race, gender, sexual orientation, source of income, religious beliefs, or other factors, and also includes a sexual advance or solicitation.
It comes after a city committee originally approved the bylaw, as a way to help people feel safer in Calgary and try to deter incidents of harassment, such as catcalling.
“Calgarians deserve a sense of safety in our communities,” said Ward 11 Councillor Kourtney Penner.
Penner also decried the fact this sort of bylaw is needed in this day and age, though it is better to see it come into force and maybe help reduce these incidents.
“Needing a bylaw in 2022 that addresses street harassment is actually discouraging. There have been many years of advocacy work from marginalized and targeted groups that educate that discrimination against race, gender, religion, sexuality, to name a few, is entirely unacceptable. The fact that this behaviour continues is disheartening and frustrating.”
Related article: Proposed bylaw would bring in fines for street harassment
Surveys were done around the community to gauge how to best handle the situation, and there is a recommendation to put a public education and awareness campaign in place.
The administration also recommends that the city seek membership in the United Nations Women’s Safe Cities and Safe Public Spaces initiative, which focuses on an approach to reduce sexual harassment and other forms of sexual violence against women and girls.
Penner added while we may be past the point of education for some people, she sees how this can move ahead in a strong way for Calgary.
“I would encourage and hope that our public awareness campaign focuses on how to report offences, bystander intervention, and help, and support for victims,” she said. “We need to show that we are serious about curbing offensive behaviour.”
