Safe Harbour

A “safe harbour” is a sheltered refuge where ships can anchor while riding out dangerous storms. Now Burnaby’s recreation and cultural facilities have become exactly that for individuals who encounter storms of another kind – namely those generated by racial discrimination, hatred and socially reprehensible behaviour of various kinds based on ethnicity, religion, class, age, ability, gender or sexuality.

Identifiable by the brightly coloured “circle of hands” sticker affixed to the windows of participating organizations, the Safe Harbour program is a province-wide initiative offered through the Affiliation of Multicultural Societies and Service Agencies of BC (AMSSA). The program serves local businesses and institutions that wish to provide practical assistance to anyone who experience discrimination and/or harassment and briefly need a safe place to go.

More than 400 Safe Harbour locations in BC – banks, libraries, real estate offices, police departments and churches included - have stepped forward and taken leadership roles since the program was launched in 2004.

The Burnaby Family Life Institute and South Burnaby Neighbourhood House introduced the program to Burnaby and facilitated training sessions for participating businesses and organizations. Civic employees at Burnaby’s community and cultural facilities received the two hour training sessions.

Safe Harbour’s bottom-line message: Discrimination cannot be tolerated in any context, particularly that of a progressive society of the sort we aspire to here in Canada. To that end, staffers at Burnaby’s arts, community and recreation centres are committed to providing a haven where community members who have been victimized find friendly faces and helping hands.

To learn more about Safe Harbour, please visit www.amssa.org If your organization is interested in being involved with the Safe Harbour program, contact Burnaby Family Life Institute at info@burnabyfamilylife.org or Antonia Beck 604-431-0400 at the South Burnaby Neighbourhood House.