Thank you to everyone who participated in the engagement. The what we heard report is now ready.

The what we heard report has been shared with the project team for use in their decision making and development of recommendation to the Community Development Committee on February 9, 2022. For information on how to attend or watch Council and committee meeting visit www.calgary.ca/council

This report will also be shared with all contacted organizations and committees. Including: The Gender Equity Diversity and Inclusion Subcommittee, the Anti-racism Program and Anti-racism Action Committee, the Indigenous Relations Officer, and the Calgary Aboriginal Urban Affairs Committee.

Notice of motion

In December 2020, Council passed a notice of motion directing Administration to research, engage and provide a recommendation report on whether a bylaw can be created to specifically address street harassment.

This project will explore:

• what other Canadian municipalities are doing to address street harassment
• what the existing criminal code includes to support addressing street harassment
• the current state of street harassment in Calgary

Through a series of engagement and research strategies, the project team will create and present options to be included in a Council recommendation in 2022. Information will be gathered from internal City of Calgary staff as well as external organizations, agencies and their stakeholders.

What is street harassment?

A working definition was created for the notice of motion. It defines street harassment as “unwelcome comments, gestures, and actions forced on a stranger in a public place because of their actual or perceived sex, gender, gender expression, or sexual orientation, and that are disrespectful, demeaning, alarming, and/or insulting.”

Are there any laws or bylaws to currently address street harassment in Calgary?

• There are no laws in Alberta against street harassment. However, Section 7 of the Municipal Government Act grants Council the authority to enact bylaws relating to the safety, health, and welfare of a municipality’s people.
• Currently, City of Calgary’s Transit Bylaw (4M81), Municipal Complex Bylaw (38M2012), and Parks & Pathways Bylaw (11M2019) prohibit some forms of harassment, disturbance or interference.

Thank you to everyone who participated the engagement is now closed.

To develop options for addressing street harassment, we want to hear from those who have first-hand knowledge an experience to better understand the needs, challenges and issues.

We want to assure you that your contributions are kept confidential. Help us do this by only sharing issues and challenges, and not anything that could identify you. Any identifying information will not be shared or published.

How will your feedback be used?

Your feedback along with the research will be used to create options and a recommendation for Council to review and consider in 2022. We will share a What we Heard report on this website.

There may be a need for follow up questions in the fall. If that is the case, we will share those directly with you.

PLEASE NOTE: there are two separate feedback forms. The first is for organizations and groups who work with and support populations impacted by street harassment. The second is for individuals with first hand knowledge or lived experience with street harassment. Please choose the feedback form that best represents you.