ARE YOU OK?

“Ask for Angela,” a campaign that originated in the U.K. in 2016 to keep people safe in bars and clubs, has since gained worldwide attention.

Ask for Angela, the U.K.-originating program that aims to help prevent assault in a bar or nightclub, finds its way to Vancouver—along with other programs meant to help keep patrons safe.

story by HELENA IWANOWICZ

Cara Cristobal just couldn’t shake the guy. The night had started out just fine; she’d headed out to Celebrities with her friends on a Tuesday night— there were drinks, there was dancing, a lot of laughter. Then she was approached by a man who wouldn’t stop following her and her friends. They’d all asked him to leave them alone, but when Cristobal went to the bathroom, he tried to corner her at the bar and force her to get a drink with him. She’d tried the polite rebuffs, the more aggressive nos. But when he still wouldn’t let her leave, she gave in and asked the bartender for an angel shot. The bartender looked confused at first, but a different bartender overheard and switched spots so that Cristobal

could ask again. She ordered two angel shots; the bartender nodded. “Not a problem.” And not long after, two security guards came and escorted the man who’d been harassing Cristobal out to the police waiting outside.

Cristobal had kept herself safe by activating a program that’s intended to help anyone who finds themselves fending off harassment in bars around the city. “Ask for Angela,” a campaign that originated in the U.K. in 2016 to keep people safe in bars and clubs, has since gained worldwide attention. It was founded by Hayley Child, a sexual violence and abuse strategy coordinator, who developed the safety tactic after suffering a personal tragedy: in

A patron who feels unsafe at a bar, nightclub, or restaurant can ask the staff for Angela, which will activate a discreet message to security, letting them know the guest needs help.

Nightclubs are meant for people to get together, drink, dance and overall have a good time; but they can also create unsafe conditions for some people.

2012, her friend Angela Crompton was murdered by her husband of three months. She pitched the idea to “ask for Angela” to managers of various bars and clubs around the area: if a patron was feeling unsafe in the club, they could walk up to a staff member and ask if Angela is working tonight. By asking for Angela, the patron would be alerting the staff member to their situation and either help the person leave discreetly, or if necessary, bouncers would take the other person out of the venue.

Nightclubs are meant for people to get together, drink, dance and overall have a good time; but they can also create unsafe conditions for some people. There are a lot of ways that nightclubs practice safety in Vancouver, including using ID scanners, and installing fire alarms, security mirrors and cameras. They can also train bartenders to hand drinks directly to patrons in order to prevent spiked drinks and to identify overserved customers, and they can train bouncers and staff to handle difficult or uncomfortable situations.

Vancouver-based bouncer Justin Girling works at the American on Main Street. He finds that most bar workers are familiar with Ask for Angela and have been practicing something similar to it for a while. He also notes that, “after the #Me Too movement, light was shed on how much sexual assault or harassment happens in bars.” He previously worked at a bar that has now closed, but recalls the security manager (who has since moved on to work at the American with Justin) kept a “no questions asked” approach “to removing people who were being inappropriate or harassing other customers, regardless of their gender,” he says. These days Justin spends most of his shifts inside, keeping an eye on reading body language and trying to act accordingly in situations that seem off.

There are other programs in town that aim to keep people safe on a Friday night, too. In September of 2018, the city of Vancouver awarded a $25,000 grant to the Good Night Out (GNO) Street Team, a non-profit anti-harassment patrol and nightlife safety program. Ashtyn Bevan is one of the regional organizers for GNO in Vancouver and started the program with a friend about four years ago. She was in her final semester in the Communications program at Simon Fraser University, where she had to develop an activism campaign that drove social change for a school assignment—and she was also working parttime for a nightclub. “While working in the nightclub industry, I saw a lot of red flags and things that made me super uncomfortable,” says Bevan. “So I decided to come up with a project that would ensure the safety of not only women, but for everyone when they went out for a night on the town.”

GNO is run by Bevan and Stacey Forrester, along with a team of volunteers—sporting bright coral T-shirts— who roam Granville during the street’s busiest times: Fridays and Saturdays between midnight and 3 a.m. Bevan was inspired by Forrester’s work with Hollaback Vancouver, which is a campaign that aims to end street harassment, and the two developed this school project into what is GNO today. Their project is part of an international campaign that also originates in the U.K., with the goal of helping to prevent and defuse any situations of harassment, including anything from inappropriate language, to catcalling, to aggressive and unwanted attention. GNO offers workshops, at-event harm reduction, and works to ensure people, including those identifying as LGBTQ+ and women, remain safe during the evening. That can mean anything from providing snacks and water for anyone trying to sober up, to hailing cabs to ensure safe transportation home. “Groping, bum-slapping, and sexually aggressive behaviour are too-common aspects of nights out,” says GNO’s official Facebook page. “The rationale is for a cultural shift to make Vancouver nightlife a safe environment for everyone; we’re challenging our nightlife economy to create safer nights out for all their customers.” n

SATURDAY MORNING

Burgers and bacon can taste like a five-star meal after a night out

Eat Now, Hung Over

It’s all about hair of the dog: Four of the best hangover brunch spots on the North Shore by CLARE MATHIESON

It’s Sunday morning. You wake up confused: what time did you get home last night? Just how much money did you spend on Jägerbombs? You do know that you need a piece of bacon and a Caesar (or three), ASAP. Grab your Pedialyte, your oversized sunglasses and your best mates to check out one of these hearty, honest and under-theradar brunch spots on the North Shore.

80S RESTAURANT

This iconic greasy spoon is both unassuming and nostalgic, from its brown leather booths and vintage patterned plates to the radical neon sign out front. This classic ’80s-style diner has a huge menu for any hungover king or queen including Bennys, burgers and crepes. If you’re not feeling flapjacks, order the chicken club; a slice of sharp cheddar cheese and thick-cut chicken breast rests between perfectly toasted white bread and the side order of golden crispy onion rings contain enough salt to replenish your electrolyte levels. The wait staff are incredibly sweet, ensuring you won’t ever have an empty cup of coffee during your visit— and they won’t mind that you reek like a tequila distillery. (Hot tip: Caesars are on special for $4.25 on Sundays.) 80srestaurant.com/

BLVD BISTRO

It’s the perfect spot for the millennial hangover brunch: kale buddha bowls and kombucha cocktails—yes please! Nestled in a quiet neighbourhood, BLVD is the perfect spot to catch up on last night’s shenanigans, with its combination of modern nourishing cuisine and classic cheeky breakfast eats like its Cinnamon Toast Crunch French Toast. Find yourself in sweet-tooth hangover heaven with the latter, the toast made from a traditional French baguette and smothered in a full-bodied sugary custard drizzle. The food and decor are Instagram-story worthy; think exposed brick, chic metal stools and succulent plants. (They even have mini red Solo cups filled with Hickory Sticks attached to their Caesars!) blvdbistro.ca/

THE TOMAHAWK BARBEQUE

Three words: Tomahawk Pow Pow. This legendary burger is topped with three grilled hot dogs, crispy bacon and serious lashings of the diner’s secret sauce. (Get it with a fried egg on top and thank us later.) The Tomahawk is known on the North Shore not only for its insanely good food, but also for its long history: it was Vancouver’s first ever drive-in barbecue joint. The collection of Indigenous artifacts that live in the restaurant bring the diner’s roots to life (the restaurant owner used to trade them for food during the Great Depression), and today, some of the fat-stacked, juicy burgers are named after First Nations chiefs the owner once knew. tomahawkrestaurant.com/

TOMMY’S CAFE

Ever think how nice it would be to eat perogies, sip coffee and chat with your friends while Dazed and Confused plays quietly on the TV? Head to Tommy’s Cafe in Lynn Valley. It’s truly one of the best places to nurse a hangover, thanks to its laidback, hippy-like atmosphere. Vintage records decorate the wall behind the cash register, and the self-serve coffee station makes you feel like you’re hanging out in your living room. The staff are as relaxed as their mom jeans, sporting Vans and a smile while they serve you your hangover special. What really makes Tommy’s a hit is the food, including the Cypress Benny, named afterthe local mountain: two huge creamy avocado slices underneath perfectly poached eggs sit on top of a toasted bagel (YES please), paired with greasy breakfast potatoes and hollandaise sauce. FYI, vegans and vegetarians, Tommy’s is the spot for you: tofu hash galore, miso-gravy included! tommyscafenorthshore. com/ n