Welcome! The advice o ered in this Safety Guide is not intended to discourage you in any way from fully enjoying your experience at Pride events or any other 2SLGBTQIA+ events held throughout the year. Moreover, it is the heartfelt wish of the SWNPA that you never find yourself in a situation where this advice proves to be a lifesaver (literally or figuratively) for you, your friends or your loved ones.
The tips herein have been compiled by a member of the SWNPA with a view to o ering you some food for thought in preparing for pride festivities this year. You may decide to celebrate Pride at local events in Southwest Nova Scotia. Or maybe this is the year you’re going to scratch an item o your bucket list by celebrating in Halifax, Montreal, Toronto, Vancouver or New York
Recognizing that di erent locations can pose di erent risks, an e ort has been made to “cover all the bases.” That means proposing safety tips common to densely populated urban centres (e.g. how to deal with massive crowds at pride parades, other Pride events and gatherings at bars, clubs, or other venues), in addition to tips that address challenges you may be accustomed to in rural environments. Wherever you choose to celebrate, it is the sincere hope of the SWNPA that love, peace and joy will surround you throughout, and that you have an absolute blast while still keeping an eye out for your own safety and that of other celebrants.
We acknowledge that this document may be of less value to some of you than to others. You may already feel well informed and prepared for every aspect of Pride this year, which includes having done your homework on best practices to deal with unforeseen situations that may present themselves. If that’s the case, good for you! But others may not be so well prepared and may not even see any need to be. In fact, some may be su ering from a bout of “things-like-that-just-don’t-happen-here-itis.” Hopefully, your Pride experience this year will prove you right. But sadly, the numbers reveal that hate toward marginalized communities is on the rise, and hate definitely knows no boundaries.
This document does not purport to be the ultimate safety guide for all members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community wherever located. That said, we have done our level best to construct a guide that will be of value to many of you. The tips contained herein have been assembled following extensive internet research focused on safety lessons learned by Pride associations across North America. Understandably, the advice o ered by each site is not identical But the commonality of experience expressed on these sites supports the argument that the tips have merit and may be worthy of your consideration.
It is our hope that one or more tips may resonate with you and possibly cause you to think about modifying your behaviour, even if just a little Because sometimes just a little is all it takes to make a huge di erence.
Happy Pride to all!
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General Safety Suggestions for Pride and Other
2SLGBTQIA+ Events
Getting Ready for Pride:
1. Draw up your personal safety plan in advance.
2 Follow the “safety in numbers” strategy (explained in more detail below)
3. Make a list of what you want to bring with you.
4. Know the law and your rights!
5. Try to get a feel for who in your locality is on your side (and who is maybe not so much)!
Once You Get to the Pride Parade:
6. Arrive with and do your best to stick with your group or buddy. If you have had to travel to the parade alone, try to search out some trusted friends when you get there and stick with them.
7. Take note of your exact location. If you have to call 911 later to report an incident, you need to be able to clearly indicate to the dispatcher where it is taking place.
8. Follow instructions from parade event organizers and law enforcement.
9. Stay alert. If you see something suspicious… say something. For example, if you notice that a group of protesters has quietly slipped into the crowd, don’t hesitate to let organizers and law enforcement know about it. Timing is critical in order to contain the situation before it heats up.
10. If you witness verbal aggression or threats of acts of violence by protesters toward a particular celebrant, make sure that you notify authorities immediately.
11. While waiting for authorities to arrive on the scene, do not take the law into your own hands! You may feel compelled to take some kind of action to show support for the person who is being victimized. If so, make your presence known by talking to the victim and calling out the perpetrators. Be loud! Your volume will alert bystanders to what is going on It may cause some celebrants to clear the area but it may also embolden others to join you to talk down the
“Hate, it has caused a lot of problems in the world but has not solved one yet.”
– Maya Angelou
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perpetrators. Another thing you can do if you have a smartphone: video the perpetrators in action and let them know they are being recorded. That tends to dampen their enthusiasm.
12. Don’t fight hate with hate. Remember that more “sophisticated” protesters may try to use their rhetoric to bait you into responding in kind. Don’t be surprised if they also have someone with a video camera poised to film you in case you lose your temper. Don’t give them that satisfaction! Be intentional, but always stay in control. Don’t forget that engaging with a perpetrator in the exchange of aggressive language can easily escalate.
Traveling Between Pride Venues:
13 When walking to and from venues, always try to follow the “safety in numbers”strategy. If you can’t walk with a buddy, stay alert (e.g. don’t put your headphones on and get lost in your tunes)!
14. Some haters like to operate under cover of darkness and tend to target people who they see as vulnerable (like someone leaving a Pride venue alone at night). If you’re walking to your car, home, or from venue to venue at night, choose well-lit and well-populated streets (even if that means avoiding a short-cut!) and do your best to be accompanied by a friend.
If You’re Celebrating Pride at an Enclosed Venue:
15. The “safety in numbers” strategy still applies.
16. When you get inside the venue, check the location of exits, windows, and fire escape routes.
17. Use your instincts and common sense. Leave any venue if you feel uncomfortable.
18. If you observe someone behaving suspiciously (maybe it’s just their body language, or they’re carrying a large backpack, bag or case of some kind), share your concerns with venue management and keep an eye on them. Hopefully, it turns out to be just your imagination, but it is always wise to be vigilant.
In Annex 1, you will find an article extracted from Wikipedia about the fire at Montreal’s Blue Bird Café back in 1972. It was later determined that the fire was not engendered by hate, at least not in the way we would categorize hate crimes in legal terms today But the tragic circumstances surrounding this particular fire emphasize the importance of vigilance when friends come together to enjoy each other’s company in a crowded, enclosed venue.
I lost a dear friend to the Blue Bird Café fire. He was a brilliant young man with a bright future. He left behind broken-hearted parents and three younger siblings who absolutely adored him. He was eighteen years of age.
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Preparing for Pride
1. Draw up your personal safety plan in advance.
You may well be thinking: “I’m not convinced that I really need to plan ahead. Pride is supposed to be a celebration and it puts a damper on things if we have to focus on the negative.”
Planning and focusing on the negative are two entirely di erent animals. Dwelling on the negative is fear-based and can indeed take us down a path that leads to detrimental outcomes. The exercise can be downright depressing and debilitating, even causing us to freeze or act without thinking in the face of danger.
Although planning ahead must include the identification of risks risks that, hopefully, will never happen the activity is solution-based and provides a means for us to focus on positive actions that we can choose to take should any of those risks materialize. As we celebrate within our community, planning ahead can dispel our fears, giving us a sense of calm derived from the confidence that we have done our best to prepare for whatever may come our way.
One more tip on drawing up your personal plan: Don’t just pull things “willy nilly” o the internet or from this guide if they don’t resonate with you. You have to come up with a plan that you believe in. If you don’t, you likely won’t execute it when under pressure.
“Thanks, and I’m not saying that this advice might not be helpful to people living in big cities, but bad things like this simply don’t happen where I live.”
It all depends on what you mean by “bad things like this.” Hatred can be expressed in many di erent ways. The odds are in our favour that most of us will not fall victim to acts of physical violence simply because of who we are. But hateful words and hateful non-violent actions have the potential to wound deeply and the ensuing scars can last a lifetime. It would surprise me to learn that anyone reading this guide can honestly say that, in their community, they have never felt the sting of non-violent intolerance rooted in misinformation-fed ignorance and fear.
“Always plan ahead. It wasn’t raining when Noah built the ark.”
– Cardinal Richard Cushing
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Although to my knowledge, no statistical analysis has been conducted to support or refute it, it would be logical to assume that the majority of protesters that show up at a Pride parade are not there for the purpose of committing acts of physical violence. They may want to bring some attention to their cause, disrupt the celebration, and perhaps most pertinent to this discussion, antagonize the celebrants, in any way they can: usually, those are their motives for crashing the party with their cleverly crafted slogans on signs, banners, and maybe even customized hats and T-shirts
As most of you are aware, a small group of protesters recently showed up outside a Kentville, Nova Scotia, all-ages drag event apparently with these objectives in mind. Fortunately, it would seem that they did not succeed in achieving their “mission.”
But let’s not be fooled: ill-informed people who believe they are doing God’s work or believe that they need to protect their children from “the evil that is us” will not be so easily dissuaded.
It’s di cult to predict whether or not a handful of protesters will make their presence known at SW Nova Pride parades this year. But they could! Included in your planning process should be some thoughtful consideration of what you would do if protesters attempted to verbally engage with you during the parade. Remember, there are strong feelings on both sides. The mere experience of observing celebrants being publicly loud and proud at Pride events may be a bridge too far for some of these protesters (how dare they be so proud of who they are!).
Don’t wait to do your planning until you are in the middle of a situation like this and someone is trying to bait you by upping the intensity of the toxic rhetoric. This is not the best moment for you to make such an important decision You need to determine in advance what your objective will be should you ever have to respond to this someday: do you choose to escalate the situation, or di use it?
“The sad truth is that most evil is done by people who never make up their minds to be either good or evil.”
– Hannah Arendt, German-American historian
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Our world is rapidly shrinking to such a degree that, from a communications perspective, we all live near to each other The ubiquity of the internet and the massive popularity of social media have given a voice to individuals everywhere who may have otherwise remained largely silent. Those who have long espoused hate-based ideologies in relative isolation have discovered, to their joy, that they are not alone.
Some are emboldened by this discovery and, it would seem, feel more comfortable speaking out publicly. Their rhetoric can resonate with those of like mind and heart, urging them to venture beyond words into actions. Their words and ensuing actions are rooted in ignorance, fear and hatred.
Some politicians and religious leaders have made the choice to capitalize on this growing wave of expressed or enacted intolerance using carefully-crafted misinformation, half-truths and innuendo to promote their distorted preference for conformity over diversity, exclusivity over inclusivity, and assimilation over individuality.
This mix of factors has contributed to the unleashing of a “perfect storm” upon already marginalized communities. Evidence suggests that the storm is growing. It may be true that blatant acts of hatred have not yet been witnessed here in our community to the degree that they have occurred elsewhere, but that gives us no reason to assume that they can never happen here, or to us.
It may be true that you have not been subjected to physical violence while celebrating your gender identity. Thankfully, most of us have not. But remember, haters have many weapons in their arsenal.
“It does not do to leave a live dragon out of your calculations if you live near to him.”
– J.R.R. Tolkien, TheHobbit
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“Got it. But even if something should happen, I’m generally pretty good on my feet, so I can always cross that bridge when I come to it.”
Yes, of course you can, but in so doing you may find yourself at a significant disadvantage. As mentioned above, we often don’t think our wisest thoughts when under stress. (OK, that’s perhaps a bit of an understatement!) Part of the reason for that is biological, relating to a small but consequential part of the brain called the amygdala.
If you’ve never heard of the amygdala, I suspect you’re not alone. The amygdala’s relevance in this conversation is that, at times when we’re under severe stress or at least the amygdala interprets that we’re under severe stress it can hijack another part of our brain that’s responsible for critical thinking. Yes, you heard that right: the amygdala can actually temporarily override our brain’s frontal lobes which are responsible for our higher cognitive functions, leaving us somewhat at a loss to make rational decisions at a time when we may need to the most. While the amygdala is in control, we may find ourselves making important decisions based on emotion rather than logic, and often such decisions represent a gross overreaction to the stress we are experiencing.
In its defense, the amygdala does perform some valuable functions for us, particularly in instances when we are facing significant and imminent danger and we simply have no time to strategize, only enough time to react.
Should you want to learn more about the amygdala, I’ve included a detailed description of how it serves us, and how it sometimes causes us grief, farther along in this guide (see Annex 2). The explanation is fairly biological, which may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but it provides some fascinating insights into the mind-body connection. You’ll also find in this same annex some handy tips on how to combat amygdala hijack and the valuable role that planning ahead can play in this regard
“Before you react, think.”
– Ernest Hemingway
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2. Follow the “safety in numbers” strategy
(If you ’ re not convinced about this strategy, a brief retrospection on the tragic story of Matthew Shepard may help you change your mind.)
Whenever possible in planning for Pride, team up in advance with a group of trusted friends who agree to watch each other’s backs during the celebrations. Or if it works better for you, arrange with one specific buddy to do the same. Make sure that everyone understands his, her or their responsibilities. This may be challenging to organize so it should be done sooner than later in the Pride planning process. Share safety plans among your group and/or with your buddy. (You may learn some new safety plan “nuggets” in the process!)
From a safety perspective, it would be great if your group could stick together throughout all Pride events. But we all know that is not likely to happen, especially if you are celebrating at a bar or a club. We want you to enjoy yourselves and mingle… after all, you are not a chain gang! Set regular times to check in with your group or buddy. Make sure that everyone in the group will be carrying a charged cell phone. Share your cell numbers. Agree upon a secure location to reconnect in case you get separated. If someone doesn’t show up as arranged, call or text them.
If you have to travel to the venue alone, tell a trusted friend or family member who will not be attending Pride where you are going, when you are going, and what time you intend to be returning home. If your plans change, immediately text or call that same individual to let them know about the changes. When you arrive home from Pride, text your friend / family member to let them know that you have arrived safe and sound. Don’t worry about waking them up, they will probably have had trouble sleeping anyway until they know you are safe!
“A day without a friend is like a pot without a single drop of honey left inside.”
– A.A. Milne, WinniethePooh
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3. Make a list of what you want to bring to the party.
During the planning stage, making a list, and following it, rarely turn out to be a waste of time List-making helps us to stay organized and take stock of what is important to us; and that’s always a good thing, Pride or no Pride!
If you’re celebrating Pride outside during the day, don’t forget:
● Sunscreen, sunglasses and a hat;
● Water and healthy snacks for hydration and sustenance (dehydration and low blood sugar can definitely a ect your mood!);
● Check the weather forecast before you go in case you need an umbrella.
As mentioned, bring your cell phone and make sure that it is fully charged. A smart phone would be even better should you need to video the bad guys acting up. Depending on how long you plan to be partying, you may need your phone charger.
Should something go sideways during the festivities, you may need to stay longer than you expected. Think about any medications that you may need to carry with you should this happen. It is also wise to bring some ID with you and possibly a piece of paper with the name and contact info of a family member or close friend. (Handy if you’ve overindulged and are temporarily out for the count. Hey, no judgment here!) This is especially important if you are celebrating Pride alone in a city far from your home base.
If you are considering carrying a personal protection device make sure that the device is legal in Canada! (You will find a list of legal and illegal protection devices along with a list of legally prohibited weapons in Annex 3.)
Here’s hoping you will never have to use them, but a pair of goggles could prove valuable to you as well. (More info on this in Annex 3.)
And on the lighter side, don’t forget your rainbow-coloured Pride accoutrements!
“People who want to appear clever rely on memory. People who want to get things done make lists.”
– Peter McWilliams, author
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“Where, after all, do universal rights begin? In small places, close to home – so close and so small that they cannot be seen on any maps of the world. Such are the places where every man, woman and child seeks equal justice, equal opportunity, equal dignity without discrimination. Unless these rights have meaning there, they have little meaning anywhere.”
- Eleanor Roosevelt
4. Know the law and your rights!
The last thing you want to do while celebrating Pride is unintentionally break the law. See Annex 3 for a selection of Canadian rights and laws that may come into play at Pride events. Depending on where you live in Canada, there may also be relevant provincial/ territorial laws and local bylaws that need to be taken into account.
It’s also important to remember that all Canadians (including the haters) have rights. And wouldn’t they just love to bait you into infringing on their rights and then capture you doing something illegal on video (just sayin’!)
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5. Try to find out who in your locality is on your side (and who maybe isn’t!)
It’s always wise to know who your friends / allies are at administrative levels in your area and, conversely, who might not be there for you when you need them If you’ve been living here awhile, you may know this already. But if you’re new to the area, there’s no time like the present to get the lay of the land. Talk to other Association members. They’ll help you to understand what you can expect.
Some Pride associations have reported that they have a wonderfully collaborative relationship with local law enforcement. Others say it’s a mixed bag with a few rotten apples. Sadly, still others report that they are not confident that they can rely on the support of representatives of law enforcement in their area.
If it hasn’t been done already, consider having a board member from your Pride association reach out to local law enforcement to gain their perspective on how we can collaborate to ensure celebrant safety during Pride or on the broader topic of combating hate directed toward marginalized communities. That will give you a sense of the level of support you will receive (or not receive) if you need their help.
Some Pride associations also reported getting local support from other high profile community groups including: unions, educators, firefighters, emergency rescuers, elected o cials, (some) church leaders, business owners, and members of other marginalized communities.
“I don’t need a certain number of friends, just a number of friends I can be certain of.”
- Alice Walker, author of TheColorPurple& social activist
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“You hold the key to love and fear, all in your trembling hand. Just one key unlocks them both, it’s there at your command. Come on people now, smile on your brother. Everybody get together, try to love one another right now. ”
- The Youngbloods, “Get Together”
These are lyrics from a song released over fifty-five years ago, but they could have been written yesterday. Because we still haven’t found a way to smile on our brothers or sisters… at least not on all of our brothers and sisters; nor have we found a way to get together, at least not to get together with everybody The best we can say is that we’re still working on it.
Humanity is a work in progress, a book with many chapters yet to be written Cognizant of it or not, each and every one of us will exercise an influence of some kind or another on the human race’s evolutionary trajectory. We do this every day in the choices that we make, the actions that we take and the values we pass on to those we love. This is not a dress rehearsal. So let’s do our best to get it right!
As we close this document, it’s high time to send a massive shout-out to two groups who form such an integral part of Pride associations worldwide and, I believe, will have pivotal roles to play as we continue to rise above the growing wave of hatred and intolerance that looms before us.
To our friends and family members who comprise the non-2SLGBTQIA+ contingency of Pride Association members worldwide: We love you. It is hard to imagine what we would do without you… who we would be without you. We acknowledge the massive contribution that you make to our sense of wholeness and well-being. We who are 2SLGBTQIA+ members may feel that we were left with little choice but to embark on this rocky journey that has led us, or is still leading us, to a better knowledge and love of our authentic selves. But you, on the other hand, had a choice and you chose love over fear by joining us on this journey. And that is something to be loud and proud about!
To the younger members of Pride associations worldwide: We love you. You are awesome!! You never cease to amaze us by the courage and resilience you show in the face of unrelenting and brutal pressure, pressure that people of your age should never have to deal with. In so doing, you display a wisdom and composure that are far beyond your years. And that too is something to be loud and proud about!
Once again, Happy Pride to all!!
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ANNEX 1:
The Blue Bird Café Tragedy (as extracted from Wikipedia)
The Blue Bird Café fire was a nightclub fire on September 1, 1972, in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. In all, 37 people were killed as a result of arson. The fire was the worst in Montreal since 1927. It is also the worst and only nightclub fire casualty in Canadian history.
Venue
Montreal’s Blue Bird Café and the Wagon Wheel, a country and western bar above it, were located on the west side of Union Street between Ste-Catherine Ouest and Dorchester (now René-Lévesque) in downtown Montreal, lying within the borough of Ville-Marie. The café and bar were known as places where largely working-class, English-speaking youthcould come for an evening of music, dancing, and drinking.
Fire
“There was lots of pitch black smoke and then a lot of heat and a lot of yellow light We knew it was a fire Everyone began to panic ”
- George Lancia, survivor
On the evening of Friday, September 1, 1972, the beginning of the Labour Day weekend, more than 200 people were at the bar celebrating.Around 10:45 PM, three young men (initial reports said four) were refused entry to the upstairs bar, as they appeared excessively intoxicated. Upset by this, Gilles Eccles, James O’Brien and Jean-Marc Boutin set a fire on the staircase that served as the only regular entrance or exit for the Wagon Wheel's customers. "It was either a Molotov cocktail or gasoline spread on the stairs and then ignited," said Montreal Police Inspector Armand Chaille The entire bar was in flames within a few minutes, according to police.
With the primary escape route blocked by the fire advancing upward toward the crowded bar, its patrons sought out other exits However, conflicting city building codes and fire regulations had left the upstairs bar with too few fire exits for its capacity of patrons. With the bar's main exit aflame and its sole fire exit blocked,1 patrons were forced to use one of two escape routes: either through the kitchen onto a
1 This Wikipedia excerpt does not provide an explanation as to why the fire exit was blocked. I tracked down a CBC news piece which clears up the mystery: “That evening, the owner of the Blue Bird, Léopold Paré, had blocked the emergency exit to stop people from using it as a way to get in without paying the entrance fee ”
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folding fire escape (the emergency exit was chained) or by climbing through a window in the women's restroom and dropping some 20 feet onto a parked car.
At its peak, the fire was fought by more than 50 firefighters. Five firefighters would be injured by smoke inhalation before the fire was declared out. At the time, the wearing of self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) was a relatively new practice and not as common among firefighters as it is today. The fire was brought under control by 2:30 a.m., and extinguished by daybreak.
Victims
While it was originally reported that 42 people had died, later investigation determined that 37 people succumbed and perished as smoke and fire overtook the bar. Police and firefighters found bodies in the bathrooms, huddled in a corner that had no exit, and jammed in a rear section of the club close to a back entrance.
Aftermath
At 3:30 a.m. Eccles was arrested and a manhunt was on for Boutin and O'Brien. They were arrested in Vancouver, British Columbia two weeks later.
In the aftermath of the fire, regulations throughout Canada were strengthened to provide for more avenues of escape.2 Two of the three defendants were convicted of second-degree murder, the third manslaughter. All three were paroled within a decade of their convictions. Owing to the blocked fire exit, a lawyer for the victims’ families proposed a $9 million civil lawsuit against the Montreal fire department, bar owner Leopold Paré, and the building's owner, with the defense led by Montreal mayor Jean Drapeau. The families eventually accepted a much lower settlement o er of $1,000 to $3,000 per victim.
On September 1, 2022, a 50th anniversary memorial was held in Phillips Square that included survivors and relatives of people that lost their lives in the fire
2 But sadly, these strengthened regulations serve little purpose if an establishment owner decides to block the exits to prevent customers from sneaking in!
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ANNEX 2:
The Amygdala: Sometimes Your Best Friend, But Not Always!
The amygdala is part of your brain’s temporal lobe. It's a major processing center for emotions. It also links your emotions to many other brain abilities, especially memories, learning and your senses. When it doesn't function as it should, it can cause or contribute to disruptive feelings and dangerous symptoms.
The amygdala is a paired structure, meaning you have two of them, one in each hemisphere of your brain. The amygdala kicks into action when a person feels severely threatened, sending a distress signal to the hypothalamus which in turn triggers the adrenal glands to release stress hormones that prepare the body’s motor functions to either fight the threat, or flee from the danger, broadly known as the “fight or flight” response. Common emotions that trigger this response include fear, anger, anxiety and aggression.
The adrenaline released causes the air passages in the body to dilate. This allows the body to supply more oxygen than usual to the muscles. The adrenaline also causes the blood vessels to contract, allowing the body to redirect blood to the major muscle groups, including the heart and lungs. It also causes the pupils to dilate, thereby enhancing a person’s vision. Another hormone called cortisol triggers the release of glucose (sugar) from your liver for fast energy during times of stress
This powerful combination of chemicals is designed to provide the body with everything it needs to react immediately and powerfully to real and imminent danger such that you don’t have enough time to think things out Essentially, you are left with two options with the chemical boost you’ve just received: to fight the danger more e ectively or to flee from it if necessary.
Through the centuries, the fight or flight response has proven to be a lifesaver It certainly must have been a plus for Stone Age humans when they needed to instantly jump into action to evade the jaws of an angry T. rex Sitting down on a rock to strategize would hardly have been the best option to choose in that situation. The flight-or-fight response can still be useful when we are in stressful situations today. But unfortunately this is not always the case.
“The greatest revolution of our generation is the discovery that human beings, by changing the inner attitudes of their minds, can change the outer aspects of their lives.”
- William James, American philosopher, historian & psychologist
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In a perfect world, the amygdala and the frontal lobes cooperate to manage our response to stress. Located in another area of the brain, the frontal lobes are largely responsible for our rational decision-making. This is where our critical thinking takes place.
When we sense a threat, the amygdala may begin to automatically activate the fight-or-flight response. However, the frontal lobes process the same information to determine if the threat is real and what a logical, rational response would be. If a threat is not perceived to be serious, the frontal lobes tend to take control, and most people will respond with a more logical, thought-out reaction; i.e. they react in a manner that is appropriate to the situation they are facing.
However, in some instances when the threat is perceived to be more serious, the amygdala can temporarily shut down or override the frontal lobes’ ability to help us think things out. This phenomenon is known as “amygdala hijack.” During the time when the frontal lobes are out for the count, a person is essentially unable to think rationally about the emotions they are feeling and unable to come to their own rational conclusion about how to react This can lead to a person reacting in a manner that is 100% emotion-based, overly intense and significantly out of proportion to the situation they are dealing with (what many of us might call “freaking out” or “having a melt down”).
To be clear, if we find ourselves in genuine, serious and imminent danger with no time to think about our options, the fight or flight response may be the perfect strategy to employ. But that all depends on the amygdala’s ability to interpret our feelings accurately. If the emotions we are feeling are “over the top,” they can fool the amygdala into doing something drastic (like hijacking our frontal lobes), despite the fact that it is unnecessary and possibly even dangerous in the particular situation we are facing. So even though we might want to blame the amygdala for the hijacking, the way we manage stress has a big influence on whether or not we will succumb to an amygdala hijack. And as we all know, managing stress e ectively is easier said than done.
Stone Age humans definitely had some very real and nasty challenges to face: escaping scary predators; finding food and shelter; dealing with disease and injury; keeping warm, especially during the Ice Age. But as far as stressors go, you could probably count on one hand the really big ones. So essentially, they led dangerous but relatively uncomplicated lives.
They didn’t have to worry about being late for an important meeting, job security, paying their mortgage, getting stuck in a tra c jam, paying their student loans, rising crime rates, whether or not people liked them, whether or not they were being politically correct, rising interest rates, acing their final exams, whether they were attractive enough, what university their child was going to get into, whether they
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could a ord that much needed dental work, what they’re going to do about their love handles etc., etc., etc.
These are just a fraction of the fears that keep 21st century citizens of the world awake at night. Some of them can be very impactful and all of them feel very real when we’re living through them. We can easily feel that we have lost control of our lives and are reacting, rather than responding, to the curve balls that life is throwing at us.
These stressors can pile up to the point where we feel totally overwhelmed and, as a result, every little issue we encounter can seem like a dire emergency. And perceiving them as such has a commensurate influence on the level of emotion they engender within us.
Remember, the amygdala is the processing centre for our emotions. It doesn’t rationalize on whether or not the threat that is causing our fears is commensurate to the level of emotions we are feeling. It simply picks up on what we are feeling and does its thing. And if we are so overstressed by the challenges of daily life that just about every little thing triggers a dramatic emotional reaction within us, we shouldn’t be surprised if the amygdala misinterprets some of these emotions and responds accordingly. And the result is that sometimes the amygdala’s response could be likened to calling in the fire brigade when somebody lights a candle on a birthday cake!
During amygdala hijack, a person may react in a way that they come to regret later. (Can you say road rage?) This may include being aggressive, argumentative, or violent in a manner that is dramatically out of proportion to the situation, like for example, throwing a punch at a protester who is trying to bait us.
Easing the Symptoms of Amygdala Hijack
Knowing that amygdala hijack is real and can be dangerous is a great first step toward reducing its impact. It’s also helpful to know what it feels like when it starts to kick in. If a person feels the symptoms of amygdala hijack creeping in, it is important that they take the time to try to keep their frontal lobes in the game
For example, if you feel stressed and your hands begin to sweat, or your heart rate quickens, or your breathing becomes more shallow (or all of these symptoms start happening to you at once), you should try to take a break and walk away from the situation that has triggered this response Once removed from the situation, take some deep breaths, try to slow everything down and regain control of your thoughts. No guarantees, but you may succeed in allowing your brain’s frontal lobes to regain control enabling you to rationally think about what is happening to you and decide on a more appropriate response to the stressor.
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Gotta hand it to him… that Socrates was one smart dude! Knowing our own minds and bodies and understanding how they collaborate for our good, or for our “not so good,” is essential if we want to address what’s ailing us. We are not robots. Each one of us may react di erently to any given situation. It might be wise to go back and think about past situations where we have lost our cool and were left wondering, “What just happened to me?” There is value in identifying what might have triggered the reaction.
Know what sets you o ! The following are just a few of the situations that may impact your reaction to stressors:
● Being overtired. Getting too little sleep, particularly if it’s night after night, can make you more irritable, short-tempered, and vulnerable to stress.
● Hunger. Even if you consume enough calories in a given day, going too long without food may result in a blood sugar level that’s low enough to cause low energy, shakiness, headaches, and troubles focusing. The choice of foods you consume may also have an influence on your stress levels!
● Being overwhelmed or overscheduled. Taking on too many responsibilities at once or even agreeing to too many social activities is a surefire recipe for feeling overwhelmed. LEARN TO SAY NO!!
● Big life transitions. Getting or losing a job, starting or ending a relationship, moving to a new home, getting married, having a baby, graduating college, losing a loved one and many other normal life transitions make you more emotionally vulnerable.
● Being outside of your comfort zone. Some people naturally feel nervous in large crowds or noisy environments. Others feel stress when having to speak in public or when they find themselves in unfamiliar surroundings.
● Having your sense of justice / sense of decency o ended. Some people can handle a wide variety of stressors but they tend to feel outrage when being subjected to or witnessing acts of injustice, prejudice or blatant disregard for others. Having to deal with haters can really push their buttons.
A situation may also trigger emotions that you didn’t even know you had in you, emotions that were suppressed (but not processed) years ago even as far back as when you were a small child.
“To know thyself is the beginning of wisdom.”
- Socrates
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Knowing what “ticks you” o emotionally may help you to take steps to avoid a potential meltdown. For example, using what you have learned about yourself, you might need to make sure you don’t go into a potentially stressful situation on an empty stomach. But some situations are less easy to resolve… unless of course you manage to find a way to change your mind about them!
“I have learned over the years that when one ’ s mind is made up, this diminishes fear; knowing what must be done does away with fear.”
- Rosa Parks
Learning to Respond Rather than React to Stressors
Like it or not, stress is part of life. There is no individual living and breathing on this planet that does not encounter some level of stress. We can change our lifestyle in a way that might reduce it, but stress will always find us and sometimes at the moments we least expect it. But we do have some measure of control over our reaction, or response, to the stressors we encounter.
Let’s face it, many of the situations that can push us over the edge are at least partially, if not entirely, rooted in fear. Giving careful thought to what stresses us out, and coming up with a plan spelling out what must be done about it, may go a long way to reducing our fears to the point where they become manageable.
Buddhist teachings speak of the many stages in the practitioner’s journey of working with fear and of the fact that it is very important to know where it begins, so we can get o on the right foot. They call the starting point the “narrow path,” where you look straightforwardly at your own experience. You examine fear and dissect it into its components. Where does it arise? What is the sensation when you feel afraid? What kind of thoughts race through your mind when you are in a state of fear? What’s your particular reaction pattern? Do you panic? Do you freeze? Do you get really busy and try to fix everything? Do you get angry? At this stage in the narrow path, you try to understand your experience, try to break it down
Doing this helps you to see things as they arise, before they become full-blown and you are caught in their sway, at which point you can’t do much about them. In meditation practice you slow things down, and that allows you to see the subtle arisings By slowing things down, you can interrupt the tossing of the match into the pile of leaves. You can say, “I don’t need to go there. I see what’s coming.” You catch things when they’re manageable. Understanding, examining, knowing, slowing down: those are the first steps in working with fear, the beginning of the path to fearlessness. In following this path, you learn to respond to your fears rather than react to them.
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You don’t need to be Buddhist to benefit from meditation. Other activities that may be beneficial to you on the path to fearlessness (or at least reducing our fears) include:
● Practicing relaxation techniques such as yoga, deep breathing, massage;
● Keeping a journal and writing about our thoughts or what we're grateful for in our life;
● Spending more time in nature (proven to lower our pulse rate and stress hormone levels);
● Taking care of our bodies with good nutrition and exercise;
● Taking time for hobbies, such as reading, listening to music, or watching our favourite show or movie;
● Taking time for play;
● Fostering healthy friendships and spending quality time with friends and family;
● Having a sense of humour and finding ways to include humour and laughter in our life;
● Volunteering in our community;
● Organizing and prioritizing what we need to accomplish at home and work and removing tasks that aren't necessary;
● Seeking professional counselling, which can help you develop specific coping strategies to manage stress.
Many of these practices are key components of what has come to be known as living an “intentional life.” Intentional choices are deliberate and purposeful decisions. Living intentionally means thinking ahead and making choices based on our personal values, beliefs and goals. In living intentionally, we go from being victims of the “come what may” to masters of our own destinies. That is, of course, to the degree that this is possible for mortal humans to be masters of their destinies.
I apologize that this annex has turned out to be so particularly lengthy. For those who are still reading, thanks for sticking with me It is my hope that this minor excursion into the curiosities of the body / mind relationship will assist you in some way or other as you celebrate Pride or in some other aspect of your daily life. From my perspective, if it saves you from asking yourself, “What came over me?” even just once, it was worth the e ort!
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3: Canadian Rights and Laws That Might Be Worthwhile to Review
Section 2 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms identifies the following fundamental freedoms of all Canadians:
a. freedom of conscience and religion;
b. freedom of thought, belief, opinion and expression, including freedom of the press and other media of communication;
c. freedom of peaceful assembly; and
d. freedom of association
It’s important to remember that the rights and freedoms set out in the Charter are not absolute. In other words they are not applicable in all circumstances!
At times, our rights can be limited to protect other rights or important national values. For example, freedom of expression may be limited by laws against hate propaganda (you’ll find more on hate propaganda laws below).
The next section of this annex will focus on other Canadian laws that may be of particular relevance to us as we prepare to celebrate Pride or, more broadly, as we live our lives as proud members of a marginalized community.
The intent of this section is to help you get better acquainted with these laws and with other related details so that they may inform your decision-making going forward.
While I may at times provide some editorial commentary to emphasize a point or in my e orts to paint a clearer picture of when these laws might apply and when they might not, please do not misinterpret this as an attempt to o er any expert legal interpretation or opinion. I do not have that expertise. My objective is simply to provide information that I believe may be worthy of your consideration.
Should you wish to gain a better understanding of the subject matter presented in this Annex, we would encourage you to take the time to dive more deeply into any item that has captured your interest by conducting your own personal research into the matter. At any time in that process, should you determine that you require an expert legal opinion with regard to any particular legal interpretation, it is the recommendation of SWNPA that you consider seeking out the counsel of a lawyer. It’s a good idea to keep in mind that lawyers may, consciously or unconsciously, come in with their own biases. So choose wisely!
ANNEX
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What Does Canadian Law Say About Hate Propaganda?
Public Incitement of Hatred
Section 391 (1) of the Criminal Code of Canada:
Every one who, by communicating statements in any public place, incites hatred against any identifiable group is guilty of
a. an indictable o ence and is liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years; or
b. an o ence punishable on summary conviction.
Wilful Promotion of Hatred
Section 391 (2) of the Criminal Code of Canada:
Every one who, by communicating statements, other than in private conversation, wilfully promotes hatred against any identifiable group is guilty of
a. an indictable o ence and is liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years; or
b. an o ence punishable on summary conviction.
There are legal exceptions to the application of 391 (2) as described in the following section:
Section 391 (3) of the Criminal Code of Canada:
No person shall be convicted of an o ence under subsection (2)
a. if he establishes that the statements communicated were true;
b. if, in good faith, the person expressed or attempted to establish by an argument an opinion on a religious subject or an opinion based on a belief in a religious text;
c. if the statements were relevant to any subject of public interest, the discussion of which was for the public benefit, and if on reasonable grounds he believed them to be true; or
d. if, in good faith, he intended to point out, for the purpose of removal, matters producing or tending to produce feelings of hatred toward an identifiable group in Canada.
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There is only one other hate-related law in the Criminal Code of Canada. I feel sadness and shame for the human race due to the very fact that we need such a law in place. But given that, in some of the darkest days of our planet’s history, targeted groups including 2SLGBTQIA+ have fallen and in some places continue to fall victim to this most vile and abhorrent practice, it needs to be mentioned:
Advocating genocide
Section 318 (1-2):
Every person who advocates or promotes genocide is guilty of an indictable o ence and liable to imprisonment for a term of not more than five years.
In this section, genocide means any of the following acts committed with intent to destroy in whole or in part any identifiable group, namely,
a. killing members of the group; or
b. deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical destruction.
Sections 391 and 318 of the Criminal Code of Canada defines an identifiable group as any section of the public distinguished by colour, race, religion, national or ethnic origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or mental or physical disability.
Section 213 (2) of the Criminal Code of Canada defines a public place as any place to which the public have access as of right or by invitation, express or implied, and any motor vehicle located in a public place or in any place open to public view.
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What Legally Constitutes Assault?
Section 265 (1-3) of the Criminal Code of Canada: A person commits an assault when
a. without the consent of another person, he applies force intentionally to that other person, directly or indirectly;
b. he attempts or threatens, by an act or a gesture, to apply force to another person, if he has, or causes that other person to believe on reasonable grounds that he has, present ability to e ect his purpose; or
c. while openly wearing or carrying a weapon or an imitation thereof, he accosts or impedes another person or begs.
This section applies to all forms of assault, including sexual assault, sexual assault with a weapon, threats to a third party or causing bodily harm and aggravated sexual assault.
For the purposes of this section, no consent is obtained where the complainant submits or does not resist by reason of
a. the application of force to the complainant or to a person other than the complainant;
b. threats or fear of the application of force to the complainant or to a person other than the complainant;
c. fraud; or
d. the exercise of authority.
Self-Defence: When Is It Legal To Fight Back?
Section 34 (1) of the Criminal Code of Canada provides individuals with a legal defense when they use force to protect themselves or others from an impending threat of force. This provision is commonly known as self-defense, and it allows individuals to take necessary measures to safeguard their safety and well-being
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Section 34 (1) of the Criminal Code of Canada:
A person it not guilty of an o ence if
A. they believe on reasonable grounds that force is being used against them or another person or that a threat of force is being made against them or another person;
B. the act that constitutes the o ence is committed for the purpose of defending themselves or another person from that use or threat of force; and
C. the act committed is reasonable in the circumstances.
What Constitutes Reasonable Grounds to Defend Oneself?
Section 34 (2-3) of the Criminal Code of Canada:
In determining whether the act committed is reasonable in the circumstances, the court shall consider the relevant circumstances of the person, the other parties and the act, including, but not limited to, the following factors:
a. the nature of the force or threat;
b. the extent to which the use of force was imminent and whether there were other means available to respond to the potential use of force;
c. the person ’ s role in the incident;
d. whether any part to the incident used or threatened to use a weapon;
e. the size, age, gender and physical capabilities of the parties to the incident;
f. the nature, duration, and history of any relationship between the parties to the incident, including any prior use or threat of force and the nature of that force or threat;
1. any history of interaction or communication between the parties to the incident;
g. the nature and proportionality of the person ’ s response to the use or threat of force; and
h. whether the act committed was in response to a use or threat of force that the person knew was lawful.
Subsection 34 (1) does not apply if the force is used or threatened by another person for the purpose of doing something that they are required or authorized by law to do in the administration or enforcement of the law, unless the person who commits the act that constitutes the o ence believes on reasonable grounds that the other person is acting unlawfully.
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Is it legal for me to video record someone (or a group) from a public place?
Based on my research, Section 162 (1) is the only section of the Criminal Code of Canada that broaches this subject and it deals with it in one context only: voyeurism.
As per the code, everyone who surreptitiously observes, included by mechanical or electronic means or makes a visual recording of a person who is in circumstances that give rise to a reasonable expectation of privacy commits an o ence.
Given that Canadian law seems to be silent on any other scenarios relating to videoing in a public place, I reviewed several Canadian legal sites and found an answer which seemed to be unanimous: With a few notable exceptions, there is no criminal sanction against taking pictures and video recordings of people from a public space (given that there is no reasonable expectation of privacy).
I was able to find a website that gave me the impression that they had some significant expertise on this subject. WARNING: nowhere on this site do the authors actually confirm that they are lawyers, but they certainly left me with the impression that they are and it seems to be the most solid and comprehensive information out there on the subject. I’ll leave it to you to decide if it is worthy of your consideration.
Video Recording Laws Canada (as extracted from the recording.law.com website):
As there is no specific law related to video recordings in Canada, the question then becomes “Is audio being captured?” If the answer is yes, you will need to defer to the audio recording laws of Canada, wherein you are required to have the consent of at least one person involved in the conversation (when there is a reasonable expectation of privacy).
I did not include Canadian audio recording laws in this Annex. To me, the audio recording laws of Canada seem to be focused on instances where someone is secretly recording a private conversation between two people without their consent. What seems to be more of interest to us is a situation where one or more protesters is engaged in a verbal exchange (or a more escalated exchange) with Pride celebrants. In that particular situation, do we have the right to record both the audio and video? In my opinion, the answer is yes. It would be hard to imagine that there is a reasonable expectation of privacy during a shouting match or a scu e in the middle of a Pride parade or other public gathering. Also, if you as the person recording the video participate in the conversation, you automatically have the consent of one person involved in the conversation and if you didn’t join the conversation it would likely not be too di cult to obtain the consent of one of the Pride celebrants who did
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This is supported by the following from recordinglaw.com:
Audio recording laws do not apply to video, such as surveillance footage where no sound is recorded. Canada’s criminal code will only apply to video surveillance footage if used to intercept (eavesdrop) on private communications.
These laws apply to areas where there is a public view; if you are on private property, you will still need approval from the property owner. This applies to places such as malls where filming improperly can result in trespassing charges.
Where can you legally film in Canada?
● On private property where you’ve received consent from the owners (or on your own property).
● On public property where there is no expectation of privacy. This could be the sidewalk, streets, a public park, etc.
● Any private property that specifically has signage allowing for photography
Where can you not legally film in Canada?
● After dark outside of someone’s home. It’s inappropriate during the day as well, but Canada’s Criminal Code 177 specifically mentions people who loiter or prowl at night near a dwelling.
● When someone has a reasonable expectation of privacy. For example in a bathroom or changing area. Criminal Code of Canada 162.1
● On private property that has signage stating ‘no photography allowed’.
● There can be additional local restrictions for commercial photographers as well in certain public areas such as transit systems where you may need to apply for a permit.
So Does That Mean It’s Legal to Video Record a Police O cer?
The Canadian Civil Liberties Association confirms that, in general terms, “If you are in a public space, such as a sidewalk or public park, you have a right to record an o cer while they are executing their duties.”
Now here’s another big CAUTION: Police o cers often don’t enjoy being filmed. This applies whether the interaction you are filming is between you and the o cer or the
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o cer and someone else. So they may request that you stop videoing them even though they may know that you have the right to do so. But there are also situations where videoing an interaction between a police o cer and a member of the public may actually constitute a criminal o ence particularly if a case can be made that you obstructed a police o cer in the execution of his or her duty. So be careful!
O ences relating to Obstruction of a Law Enforcement O cer
Section 129 of the Criminal Code of Canada:
Every one who
a. resists or wilfully obstructs a public o cer or peace o cer in the execution of his duty or any person lawfully acting in aid of such an o cer,
b. omits, without reasonable excuse, to assist a public o cer or peace o cer in the execution of his duty in arresting a person or in preserving the peace, after having reasonable notice that he is required to do so, or
c. resists or wilfully obstructs any person in the lawful execution of a process against lands or goods or in making a lawful distress or seizure, is guilty of
d. an indictable o ence and is liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years, or
e. an o ence punishable on summary conviction.
If you truly believe that you are being unfairly or illegally treated by a law enforcement o cer you have the right to voice your concerns to the o cer, ask for their name and badge number, question their actions, and/ or request the intervention of a supervisor.
You might also consider politely explaining to the o cer that it is your understanding of the law that you have the right to video record them in a public place. Keep in mind though that if you push too far, the interaction can escalate. If the o cer actually orders you to comply with his request and you continue to refuse to do so you could be facing criminal charges. If you still feel that your rights have been violated it may be wiser to wait until after the interaction has ended to follow up on the issue via legal channels or by filing a complaint at the police station.
If you are an avid YouTuber, you may know only too well that there are people out there who make a career out of videoing law enforcement interactions with the public. It would seem that, more often than not, the stories they are searching for are those that make o cers look bad, for example, when they appear to be corrupt, rude, insensitive, or they demonstrate an ignorance of the law or potentially violate the rights of the citizens they are interacting with. And when they are able to video capture an interaction of that kind, for them it’s mission accomplished And you can bet they will post the video on YouTube because there seems to be a voracious appetite for that type of content.
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Today, the internet is a major influencer of public opinion. Unfortunately, a video such as this can send a powerful message to millions of viewers that police o cers are the bad guys. This can have a massively negative impact on law enforcement interactions with the public.
More than ever, police o cers have a tough job to do. If you have to deal with a grumpy o cer, the grumpiness you observed may be a result of an unpleasant interaction that the o cer previously had that day. So don’t be too quick to take it personally. In my opinion, taking things personally, even when you think you have reason to do so, doesn’t usually help to resolve a situation.
Based on my experience in Canada, most o cers do their best to execute their duties with professionalism, competence and sensitivity. And yes, there may be a few bad apples in the bunch. And yes, you may have to interact with one of those bad apples once in a while. But it does no good to assume that the next time you engage with an o cer you’re going to be up against a bad apple
Hopefully, they will pleasantly surprise you. And if they don’t, you can still file your complaint after the interaction. But before making that decision, take a good hard look at your motives. Are you driven by a desire to be a defender of justice so that this kind of treatment doesn’t repeat itself or are you motivated by a desire to exact a little bit of revenge and score a point against a grumpy o cer? If your complaint is settled in your favour, you may feel a sense of satisfaction knowing that the o cer in question has received some kind of sanction or corrective measure. But, win or lose, you may also risk turning that o cer and his or her colleagues against not only you, but other local 2SLGBTQIA+ members during future interactions. This is particularly true if your complaint comes o sounding petty or vindictive. So choose your battles wisely.
In November of 2021, The Canadian Civil Liberties Association posted an excellent information piece on this subject called “Know Your Rights Filming & Photographing Police.” I recommend it as a must-read:
https://ccla.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Know-Your-Rights-Filming-Police-20 21.pdf
What Weapons and Firearms are Illegal in Canada?
The Criminal Code of Canada regulations provide an extensive list of firearms and weapons that are illegal in Canada including:
● automatic firearms
● sawed-o rifles and shotguns
● silencers
● large capacity ammunition cartridges
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● knives that open by spring action, gravity or centrifugal force
● any weapons declared by Order in Council to be a prohibited weapon
The Criminal Code of Canada specifically states that a prohibited weapon is “any device designed to be used for the purpose of injuring, immobilizing or otherwise incapacitating any person by the discharge therefrom.”
Criminal Code of Canada Regulations include on their List of Prohibited Weapons:
● tear gas, Mace or other gas, or
● any liquid, spray, powder or other substance that is capable of injuring, immobilizing or otherwise incapacitating any person.
Carrying or possessing tear gas, pepper spray and/or mace is illegal in Canada. Dog, bear or coyote sprays also fall under the definition of a prohibited weapon in Canada but it is not illegal to possess them. These sprays are legal to use in Canada for fending o wild animals. But it is illegal to use them against humans!
But that doesn’t mean that the haters won’t try to use some kind of illegal toxic spray against you, placing you in a significantly more vulnerable position. Having a pair of goggles on hand could save you from a world of hurt.
Also included on the List of Prohibited Weapons:
Any firearm capable of discharging a dart or other object carrying an electrical current or substance, including the firearm of the design commonly known as the Taser Public Defender and any variant or modified version of it.
So What’s Left That I Can Use to Legally Defend Myself?
Unfortunately, the list of legal personal safety devices is not long:
● Personal Safety Alarms
● Self-Defense Safety Keychains
● Safety Whistles
● Flashlights
● Tactical Baton Keychain Safe Glass Breaker
● Personal Safety Apps
That’s why it is our sincere hope that the tips provided in this Safety Guide can help you stay out of situations that may place you at greater risk.
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If you decide to follow the guide:
1. You’ll be able to enact your safety plan.
2. You’ll have employed your “safety in numbers” strategy to protect yourself.
3. You’ll have made your list and brought everything you need to enact your plan.
4. You’ll have done your homework so you’ll have a better idea of who you can count on if you need help.
5. And the fact that you are reading this indicates that you have stayed with us to the end of this document so you now have a better handle on your rights and the laws that may come into play.
So bravo to you for hangin’ in! You got this! We love you! Happy Pride!
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