Calgary might enact an anti-street harassment bylaw

In an effort to make the city safer for women, Calgary council is considering the creation of an anti-street harassment bylaw. 

Council voted unanimously in favour of a motion to review its public safety bylaws and look at creating a bylaw to address the issue, especially for groups like women who are more at risk, on Tuesday evening. 

Coun. Druh Farrell said since she brought forward the motion, she's received abusive comments on social media, and heard from female reporters interviewing her on the topic that they've been victims of harassment too — showing the need to take action. 

"Cities can do their part to combat gender-based violence when federal and provincial laws are still lacking," she said. 

The motion describes street harassment as  "unwelcome comments, gestures, and actions forced on a stranger in a public place because of their actual or perceived sex, gender, gender expression, or sexual orientation, and that are disrespectful, demeaning, alarming, and/or insulting."

Farrell pointed to a Statistics Canada report that found one in three women, 15 years of age or older, were victims of unwanted sexual behaviour in a public place in a one-year period. 

Mayor Naheed Nenshi said it's important to recognize that not everyone experiences the city in the same way, something the city's recent hearings on racism highlighted. 

Harassment has significant consequences

Susan Gillies, executive director for the Women's Centre of Calgary, wrote in a letter of support for the motion that street harassment has significant and often invisible consequences for women. 

"These forced adaptations are often disruptive to the everyday lives — and livelihoods — of women, and harmful to their overall quality of life," Gillies wrote. 

She pointed to the city's own public safety survey, showing that women avoid certain places, change their routines or carry items to defend themselves due to unwanted sexual behaviour from strangers. Other Canadian cities like Edmonton, Vancouver and London have enacted bylaws against the behaviour. 

The motion also directs administration to connect with Calgarians on the topic to find out how street harassment affects their life in the city.

Administration was directed to bring a report back to committee before 2022.