Safe Harbour - Respect For All

Welcome!
Safe Harbour is about a vision: an inclusive British Columbia that celebrates strong, healthy and diverse communities. Fulfilling the Safe Harbour vision starts with local storefront businesses and agencies.

Coordinated by the Affiliation of Multicultural Societies and Service Agencies of BC (AMSSA) and 22 community-based partners, over 370 Safe Harbour locations currently serve as sanctuaries for people who experience discrimination or harassment and briefly need a place of refuge – but they are also so much more.

Each Safe Harbour location announces to the community that it understands and welcomes diversity. Members of BC’s diverse communities are sometimes unsure whether a business, organization or institution will be receptive to them and their needs. Will they be treated the same as other, more mainstream members of the public? Will discriminatory comments or actions directed at them be effectively dealt with by staff in the restaurants and shops they visit? The Safe Harbour program delivers training that allows staff members to better respond to their diverse community members and create more inclusive, welcoming environments for all.

A Safe Harbour network of forward-thinking businesses, credit unions, social service providers, chambers of commerce, libraries, constituency offices, city halls and other workplaces is steadily expanding in 22 rural and urban BC communities, from Prince Rupert to Campbell River to South Vancouver. Safe Harbours are proudly embracing the richness and diversity of their community and demonstrating their respect for people, no matter their culture, ethnicity, religion, class, age, ability, sexual orientation, or gender.

What is Safe Harbour?

Safe Harbour is about demonstrating leadership in understanding diversity.
Safe Harbour creates an environment where all members of our community feel welcomed and safe.
Local Safe Harbour networks provide a resource to local businesses and agencies to be better prepared to serve an increasingly diverse staff and clientele.
Businesses and organizations participating in Safe Harbour are making socially- responsible business decisions and providing a good place to work.
Consumers demonstrate social responsibility and make ethical consumer choices by supporting Safe Harbour businesses.

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Community Organizer Spotlight
Abbotsford Community Services

The Safe Harbour program is gaining momentum in Abbotsford and has dozens of Safe Harbour locations including Abbotsford Addictions Centre, Abbotsford Youth Commission, the Institute for Safe Schools of BC, Safeway, Sun Life Financial, UCFV Student Union Society, Triangle Community Resources, and Vancity.

As the community organizer of Safe Harbour, Abbotsford Community Services has been enthusiastic about raising awareness for and celebrating the strength of diversity in their community. Both employees and management have said that when they take the training, they leave with a better understanding of how others experience living in their community and simple ways to make them feel more welcome within their organization.

Abbotsford Community Services have been busy promoting Safe Harbour to hundreds of businesses, organizations, and individuals. Through their commitment, they have developed strong relationships and have received acknowledgement in the Abbotsford News, the City of Abbotsford’s committee and working groups’ meetings, and the Fraser Valley Human Dignity Coalition.

In the photo:
Asli Kucukbumin – Safe Harbour Coordinator – Abbotsford Community Services Photo Taken by John Van Putten – Abbotsford News

Safe Harbour Community Participant: Abbotsford Police Department
Contact: Ian MacKenzie, Abbotsford Police Chief
Website: http://www.abbotsfordpolice.org/

"The Safe Harbour training which our staff received only made even clearer how important it is to have Safe Harbours available to the community, especially in the downtown. This training also increased our staff's awareness and appreciation for diversity. This program not only allows us to give practical support to people who have experienced racism or hate, but also gives us the opportunity to say that we as a business in this community will not accept racism or hate activity in our community."

Anne Kuzminski, Manager, Royal Bank (Nanaimo)