WATCH: An international movement to end sexual harassment is coming to Vancouver. The Good Night Out campaign, focuses on training security and staff at bars and pubs to be on the lookout for aggressive behaviour against women. Asa Rehman reports.
Vancouver nightclubs, bars, and other late night entertainment venues will be getting a new visitor this summer.
Their name is ‘Hollaback! Vancouver”, and they’ll be working with licensed venues to make them safer for women.
“Vancouver has a very vibrant, very large nightlife scene, between clubs and concerts that go through,” says Stacey Forrester, team lead for Hollaback! Vancouver.
“But unfortunately those venues are also breeding grounds for macho culture, and with that comes these types of behaviours; harassment and unwanted…touching behaviour.”
The organization is introducing the ‘Good Night Out campaign’ as a way to help management and staff implement policies to help end harassment.
“We’re going to check for things that contribute to women’s safety, but also everyone’s safety. And we’re going to ensure what we find to goes back to the owners and managers, and work collaboratively to help better the things that maybe need a bit of improvement,” says Forrester.
Through the campaign, bar staff will be informed of ways to deal with sexual harassment and ultimately prevent it. They will receive training and the venue will have to pass a safety audit before being able to display the ‘Good Night Out’ sticker on their front door.
“We like any campaign that’s going to help public safety and protect people in our society, especially the vulnerable,” says Eddie Emerman, General Manager at the Blarney Stone.
“We do have an extensive security training program, but even us could benefit from some kind of input for specific training.”
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