Safer Spaces: Activity 1

Environmental Scan Activity

Safer Spaces

We use the term “safer space” to recognize that people need different things to feel safe, so it can be hard to make recommendations that cover everyone’s needs to make a space truly safe for everyone all the time at the same time. This is why ongoing training and collaboration with trained facilitators is so critical. You don’t have to know everything yourself. 

It is unrealistic to aim for perfection; we are aiming for prevention.

The term safer space also recognizes that we all have the capacity to harm and be harmed. Accountability, transparency, resolutions and restitution for survivors, are imperative.

Did you know?

If you want to create a safer space, start with your environment. We often say that our environment can be a third teacher. This means that people, clients, community members can read non-verbal cues about what is acceptable in the space and what isn’t. 

Our environment can set the tone for the culture in our space.

What can this look like in bars or restaurants?

This means there are no images or slogans condoning rape culture or misogyny. No ads that make a joke out of drug-facilitated sexual assault.

Have you thought about awareness and barriers to your staff being able to see or hear cues?

Do you have a layout or a process to show employees where there are spots or areas in your space that are less frequented, monitored or see less foot traffic?

Developing a plan to make sure that you have staff rotating in those areas is a great preventative measure. Having signs in these areas is great as well! (near ATMS, near washrooms, on doors and in framed spaces)

What kind of signs are in your space?

We have seen people be very creative with setting norms and values for safety in their spaces, especially in low traffic or low light areas. How do patrons know how they should or can act in your space? (menu idea, poster idea, stickers, individual guest cards, interactive cards)

Gender Neutral bathrooms should be available and accessible. If you do not have gender neutral washrooms, we recommend the following:

• Do not just put important safety posters and info in just the women’s washroom, make sure it’s in both.

• Develop a sign or get one off the internet that lets people know it’s their choice which bathroom they use, and everyone must respect that choice. You can label the washrooms toilet or urinal if you have single stalls.

If it is too loud in the space or too quiet (formal seating) what can you do to ensure that staff can still communicate with one another and with patrons?

This is a great opportunity to have security and support staff involved in the planning around this protocol.

Example: Cards with colour codes or images that send non-verbal cues if staff need support.

Check in with yourself and your environment (space):

• Does your space reflect your values?

• Does your environment welcome all people?

• Do you understand what tokenizing is? How can people tokenize through their environment?

Example of tokenizing staff or communities:

1. You have a rainbow sticker and flags in your bar yet you do not actively hire or partner with 2SLGBTQ+ people or communities. 

2. You ask your one staff who is queer or organize all of your allyship events, this is tokenizing. How can you use your environment and your intentional actions to create an authentic and safer environment?

An investment into culture change can take time, exploration and changes. Big expensive changes are not a fix-all. There are many creative and low costs ways to create environments that are meaningful and safer.