Discrimination Response
Through a Restorative Justice lens the Community Justice Centre receives and responds to reports of incidents involving racism, homophobia, transphobia or other forms of hate.
Racist, homophobic, transphobic and hate-based behaviours and incidents undermine the very core of what it means to be a community. Such incidents require a response that asserts community beliefs in democratic freedoms, individual rights, and collective responsibility.
Responding to acts of discrimination
How the Community Justice Centre can respond
The Community Justice Centre is a recent recipient of a grant from the BC Law Foundation. The grant will be used to increase the infrastructure and community awareness of the center's anti-discrimination. This work will include the formation of an advisory committee of racialized and systemically included individuals. The work will be ongoing throughout 2024.
When the centre receives a report of an incident involving racism, homophobia, transphobia or hate, the needs and wishes of the person affected are always central to the process. If they simply want to report the incident and not consider a response to address the harm, we will honor that request. Information is kept confidential unless the complainant requests response support that would result in their being identified. If the person wants a response we use our skills, experience, and network of contacts to help the person affected address the incident through a Restorative Justice Lens.
Information can also be reported by a supporter or bystander. When reported by a bystander the information is recorded in a de-identified manner.
When a response is not requested, individuals still report incidents. This information is documented in a de-identified way and may be used to advocate for increased anti-discrimination education in our community.
Responses may include:
Listening
Documenting
Holding healing dialogue circles
Helping people find resources
Informing organizations, businesses, and individuals when they have caused harm
Reporting the issue to the RCMP if it involves criminal impact
Other restorative justice practices
The centre’s ability to support responses may vary at times depending on capacity.
The Critical Incident Protocol
Established in 2009, the Critical Incident Response Protocol expresses the Comox Valley’s desire to establish and maintain a community of acceptance and understanding. It affirms that we welcome and celebrate our diversity of culture, religious belief, ethnic background, differential ability, age groups, sexual orientation, genders, and socio-economic status.
A critical incident is a racist, homo/transphobic, or hate-based event resulting in distress or harm to anyone, or a group of persons, within the community.
History of the Critical Incident Protocol
The Community Justice Centre pioneered the Critical Incident Response Protocol in 2009. The protocol’s purpose is to shape the Comox Valley’s approach to incidents of racism, homophobia, and transphobia. 120 local agencies have signed the protocol.
Pillars of the Critical Incident Protocol
Racist, homophobic, transphobic, and hate-based behaviours, actions, and incidents undermine the very core of what it means to be a community. They threaten everyone’s health and safety. Such incidents require a response that asserts community beliefs in democratic freedoms, individual rights, and collective responsibility. The three pillars of the Critical Incident Protocol are:
Awareness
Ongoing public education
Prevention
Training and consultation for specific groups and organizations connected to vulnerable communities
Response
Organizations who have signed the protocol agree to be active in addressing hate-based incidents
Critical Incident Logo by Andy Everson
Resilience BC Anti-Racism Network
The Resilience BC Anti-Racism Network operates hubs in more than 50 communities across the province. We see a future free from racism and hate. Resilience BC Anti-Racism Network is bringing communities together to do the hard work and make this vision a reality. The Comox Valley Community Justice Centre is the hub for Resilience BC for the Comox Valley.
