Former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and other global leaders have recently spoken out about
the growing threat of hate across the world. In Canada, community groups are seeing an
increase in concerned calls from people who feel unsafe.
According to Statistics Canada, police-reported hate crimes have steadily increased over the
years. Nearly two-thirds of these incidents are motivated by race or ethnicity. Others stem from
religious bias, sexual orientation, ageism, or prejudice against individuals with physical, mental,
or developmental disabilities.
It’s estimated that around 250,000 hate crimes are reported to police annually, but only about
one in five incidents are believed to be officially reported. Hate crimes can range from graffiti
and vandalism to hate propaganda or physical assaults. In emergencies, such as racially
motivated attacks, the public is urged to call 9-1-1 and clearly state that a hate crime is being
reported.
“When people cross the line, that’s when we have a responsibility to report hate crimes rather
than ignore them,” says Linda Annis, Executive Director of Metro Vancouver Crime Stoppers.
“There is no place for hate in Canada or anywhere else. If you’ve experienced it, or you’ve seen
it happen, you can call police or call us anonymously at Crime Stoppers. All we need is
information about those responsible to pass on to investigators who can do something about it.”
In fact, if you have information about any crime that could lead to an arrest, anonymous tips
may be provided through Crime Stoppers’ downloadable “P3” phone app, calling Crime
Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477, online at solvecrime.ca, or by following the link on the Metro
Vancouver Crime Stoppers Facebook page.
