Agricola Street, Halifax: Community Safety Assessment

You’re Invited!

Community Safety Assessment

Assessing public safety through a gendered equity lens

Where: Italian-Canadian Cultural Association, 2629 Agricola Street, Halifax

When: Wednesday, May 21st from 6:00 – 9:00 p.m.

On Wednesday, May 21st from 6:00 – 9:00 p.m., Halifax Regional Municipality’s (HRM) Safe City & Safe Public Spaces Program, in collaboration with North End Business Association will be hosting a Community Safety Assessment (CSA).

A CSA is a participatory, community-focused tool that supports residents in making public spaces safer, more accessible, and equitable.

Join us at the Italian-Canadian Cultural Association (2629 Agricola Street) to explore the neighbourhood, assess its social, natural, & built elements, and make safety recommendations through a gendered safety lens.

What to expect:

• Meet at the Italian-Canadian Cultural Association for brief instructions.

• Walk/roll together along the 1 km route, using the CSA mobile app tool to record observations.

• Debrief as a group at the original meeting spot. Complimentary refreshments and snacks will be provided.

Participants should bring:

• A fully charged smartphone or device that can connect to Wi-Fi to use & download the CSA mobile app tool.

• Comfortable shoes and clothing.

**If you do not have a device that connects to Wi-Fi, still please join us! We can pair up with devices or facilitators can record your observations for you.

Insights shared in this process are compiled in a report by HRM Safe City Program. The final report can be used by participants, community members, and municipal staff to advocate for changes in the public space so it is safer, more enjoyable, and equitable for all.

If you would like to join us, please register by emailing info@gonorthhalifax.com

Learn more about Community Safety Assessments:

A Community Safety Assessment (CSA) is a community based participatory tool used to build safer neighborhoods and other public spaces within our city. The tool is built from the best practices of Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED), has been adapted for use all over the globe, and endorsed by leading organizations such as UN Women.

It brings together community members and other important partners to walk or roll through a public space to assess and make safety recommendations to improve the area. These recommendations are grounded in people’s expertise from daily lived experiences of using—or choosing not to use—the space.

The CSA is based on the understanding that built, natural and social elements of a public space impact feelings of safety. The safer a space feels, the more people will use it, and the safer it will become due to increased activation and community stewardship.

Research shows that when women and gender-diverse residents, including 2SLGBTQIA+, youth, Black, Indigenous, racialized women, gender-diverse people, and women & gender-diverse people with disabilities, are meaningfully involved in identifying safety concerns and solutions, these public spaces can be made safer for everyone.

Learn more about HRM’s Safe City & Safe Public Spaces Program at Halifax.ca/safecity