This provincial anti-violence project addresses both hate-motivated violence against and intimate relationship abuse in lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans (LGBT) communities in British Columbia. It is a partnership between the BC Association of Specialized Victim Assistance and Counselling Programs (BCASVACP) and The Centre, A Community Centre Serving and Supporting Lesbian, Gay, Transgender, Bisexual People and Their Allies. The Government of Canada’s National Crime Prevention Strategy is a partner with the BC Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General in this initiative.

This one-year project focuses on increasing safety, preventing violence and improving the strength and well being of LGBT people in four communities in BC: Prince George, Nanaimo, Nelson and Kelowna. While this project addresses anti-LGBT violence (hate-crimes), there is a specific focus on intimate relationship abuse. The project does this by building community capacity to respond to this issue and empowering individuals in the following ways:

• Training: Developing curriculum and providing training to service providers including RCMP/police, probation, crown counsel, victim service workers, stopping the violence counsellors, transition house staff, and other social service and health care providers, to improve their knowledge and skill level.

• Resource Development: Developing, producing and distributing a series of pamphlets on topics related to hate crimes, violence in relationships and creating healthy relationships for LGBT people.

• Community Development and Education with LGBT Communities: Organizing and facilitating four Roundtable Discussion Forums with LGBT communities in Prince George, Nanaimo, Nelson and Kelowna to discuss violence impacting these communities and specifically abuse in intimate relationships. Building capacity within LGBT communities to break the silence about this issue by creating strategies and developing tools to educate about violence as well as healthy relationships in LGBT communities.

For more information:

Peter Toppings
Education and Outreach Coordinator
The Centre, A Community Centre Serving and Supporting Lesbian, Gay, Transgender and Bisexual People and Their Allies
(604) 684-6548
[email protected]

Cindy Holmes
Program Manager;
BC Association of Specialized Victim Assistance and Counselling Programs
Coordinator, Safe Choices
(604) 633-2506
[email protected]