Hate Crimes Peer Education

The Hate Crimes Peer Education Project aims to raise youth awareness and knowledge levels about hate crime issues for high school students, foster and support youth leaders, and enhance local youth-police relations. In order to accomplish this, 5 peer educators worked with 2 School Watch Officers from the Community Response Unit of our local 14 Division to learn about hate crimes and collaboratively develop a workshop and related materials to be delivered in high schools in February.

This project aims to increase youth understanding about hate crimes, nurture youth leadership, promote positive youth-police relations and lay a foundation for future initiatives that extend beyond the immediate community.

Project Resources:

- Hate Crimes Prevention Powerpoint
- Hate Crime Reporting Handout

This presentation was delivered to high school students at Harbord Collegiate Institute, St. Mary’s Catholic School and Oasis Alternative Secondary School. We are currently looking for funding to continue the workshops. If you are interested in having a presentation in your school or for your group, contact Nikki Toten at nikki@scaddingcourt.org or at 416-392-0335.

 Hate Crimes Resources:

Criminal Code of Canada: Hate Provisions – Summary, Media Awareness Network

Addressing Hate Crimes in Ontario, Ontario Ministry of the Attorney General, 2006

Toronto Police Service 2010 Annual Hate/Bias Crime Statistical Report

Hate Crime Education Toolkit, St. Joseph Immigrant Women’s Centre, 2008

 Articles on Hate Crimes:

Police-Reported hate crimes down sharply in 2010: Stats Can , Globe and Mail, April 12, 2012

Youth Hate Crimes: Identification, Prevention and Intervention, American Journal of Psychiatry, 2003

When is it hate speech?: 7 significant Canadian cases, CBC, October 12, 2012