Photo: Amandalina Letterio
An RCMP Safe Space sticker to the right of the front door of Loyal’s hair salon
Loyal Wooldridge, councilor and owner of Loyal’s hair salon, believes the Kelowna RCMP is taking a step in the right direction with its “RCMP Safe Place” signs.
The Kelowna RCMP launched the program on Monday, but it was not well received by the LGBTQ community, who felt they should have been included in the initiative.
Wooldridge is one of the first Kelowna business owners to proudly display a “Safe Place” sign in its window.
“When talking to my own organization, inclusivity and diversity are really embedded in our values. Our team has been trained from the moment they’re on board,” explains Wooldridge.
Kelowna Pride raised concerns about whether the RCMP will actually be able to verify or guarantee these rooms and that every employee welcomes them with open arms.
“As part of this program, you are signing a commitment as an organization and a company to uphold these values,” Wooldridge told Castanet. “I would expect anyone who puts this sticker on their door and signs this agreement with the RCMP to agree to these things.”
Kelowna RCMP Commander Supt. Kara Triance said Tuesday the rollout of the program had been suspended while she was consulting with the Pride Society on her concerns.
“I wish I could go back and start over and have these discussions before,” said Triance.
Wooldridge says these conversations are changing, and while this is a “small step,” it is a positive one.
“I’ve lived in the Okanagan since 1993. We used to only have gay dances every two months and we wore little rainbow stains on our jeans so we weren’t really identified,” he recalls. “In that short amount of time we are now seeing thousands of people coming here for Kelowna Pride this summer.”
Wooldridge says he recognizes that vulnerable populations and underrepresented voices have had problems with law enforcement.
“Is there room to grow? Absolutely. Have people had bad experiences in the past? Of course. It is important to note that the people who organize this are well-intentioned and if there has been an oversight or misstep, they can.” be corrected through conversations and counseling, “he adds.
