Category: Community posts

SHARP Workplaces Poster

SHARP Workplaces for Help with Sexual Harassment Claims in the Workplace

Community posts

by Community Legal Assistance Society (CLAS)

Free legal advice is available to anyone who has experienced workplace sexual harassment from the SHARP Workplaces legal clinic.

What is sexual harassment in the workplace?

Sexual harassment in the workplace is an unfortunate reality for many British Colombians, yet studies have shown it still goes under-reported. In fact, a 2017 study of Canadian working women showed that more than half of them had experienced sexual harassment during their careers, but only about a quarter complained or reported the issue. As a country that seems to pride itself in striving to gender equality, this is a disheartening figure.

One barrier to reporting may be that many British Colombians are not sure what workplace sexual harassment is. The Supreme Court of Canada has defined sexual harassment as;

“unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature that detrimentally affects the work environment or leads to adverse job-related consequences for the victims of the harassment.”

It can happen in any type of workplace, and includes a range of behaviors that abuse power and may make the recipient feel unsafe in their place of work.

How can SHARP Workplaces help me?

While recent social movements have created awareness of unacceptable behaviors, there is still a gap in service for workers to access advice, education, and proper information to address sexual harassment if it should happen to them. This is especially important for marginalized groups, such as Indigenous people, LGBTQ2S+, ethnic and cultural minorities, people with disabilities, and other vulnerable groups in society.

The new partnership between the Community Legal Assistance Society (CLAS) and the Ending Violence Association of BC (EVABC) aims to fill that gap, by creating SHARP Workplaces, funded by the Department of Justice Canada. This program offers a free legal service offering up to 5 hours of free confidential legal advice and is available to anyone in BC who has a complaint regarding workplace sexual harassment in BC. By providing legal advice, SHARP Workplaces wants to ensure that workers know their rights and have the appropriate support to take whatever avenue they feel is best. SHARP Workplaces will also provide free education and training to small businesses, non-profits and Indigenous organizations.

How do I access the service?

People who experience sexual harassment can access the SHARP Workplaces legal advice service by calling: 604-673-3143 or toll-free: 1-888-685-6222, emailing SHARPWorkplaces@clasbc.net or by going to clasbc.net.

Find it on Clicklaw: https://www.clicklaw.bc.ca/helpmap/service/1307

For referrals to support services after 5 p.m., please call VictimLinkBC: 1-800-563-0808. 

Education and training workshops can be requested from Ending Violence Association of BC by calling: 604-682-8820, or emailing education@endingviolence.org.

I help the people in my community. What can SHARP Workplaces do for me?

Intermediaries are encouraged to reach out to SHARP Workplaces if they would like to request a presentation for their organization to learn more about our legal advice service, education and training services and about workplace sexual harassment. Advocates who may be supporting clients with their workplace sexual harassment claims may also contact SHARP Workplaces for advice.

About CLAS

The Community Legal Assistance Society (CLAS) is a non-profit society providing legal assistance, information and education in BC, and works to advance the law to address the critical needs of those who are disadvantaged or face discrimination. For further information, please see: www.clasbc.net

About EVA BC

The Ending Violence Association of British Columbia (EVA BC) works to coordinate and support the work of victim-serving and other anti-violence programs in British Columbia through the provision of issue-based consultation and analysis, resource development, training, research and education. Our work is guided by respect for difference, human dignity and equality. https://endingviolence.org/

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Pivot’s Rights Cards for Marginalized People

Community posts

by Pivot Legal Society

“If it is not accessible to the poor, it is neither radical nor revolutionary”
Jonathan Herrera Soto

What are Rights Cards?  

The original card, “Statement for Police,” was first produced in 2002 and launched on the steps of the headquarters of the Vancouver Police Department. 17 years later, these rights cards remain an important resource. These wallet-sized cards are a handy resource for people who want a straightforward rights-based resource. In recent years, we have also collaborated with community groups to produce rights cards that meet the needs of their membership – including groups like Sex Workers United Against Violence (“SWUAV”) and the BC Association for People On Methadone (“BCAPOM”). The rights cards have been distributed to organizations across Canada.

You can access these cards via Clicklaw, or find them on our website:

How can Rights Cards help me?

If you are someone who regularly deals with law enforcement, these cards are meant to be a handy reference guide. The Statement for Police cards include an overview of your rights, what you can say to police when you are being stopped or questioned, and where to file a complaint. If you are stopped by the police, you can also provide them with the card rather than speaking to them.

Access to justice

A photo of Know Your Rights booklets in a pile
Know Your Rights Handbook

Know Your Rights resources are an important part of public legal education efforts. In addition to these materials, however, BC must prioritize steps police accountability processes. During workshops or community forums, Pivot staff regularly hear about how people are afraid of speaking up about their rights because they are not sure if it will escalate their encounter with the police or lead to retaliation in the future.

In Project Inclusion: Confronting anti-Homeless and anti-Substance User Stigma in BC we recommend that the Attorney General take immediate action to increase access to justice for people who believe they have been the victims of excessive force, discrimination, or harassment by police by dedicating legal aid funding for:

  • a clinic to support people to make police complaints through summary advice, short service, or full representation based on the needs of the individual and the nature of the complaint;
  • public legal education workshops and materials to help people navigate the process of bringing a lawsuit against a police officer or police force; and
  • legal representation for families and/or victims in instances of police-involved serious injury or death to facilitate full participation in a Coroner’s Inquests and civil actions.

What’s next?

Police accountability remains a core part of Pivot’s mandate and we continue to advocate for the rights and dignity of criminalized communities who navigate police as part of their daily survival. This past year we authored a memorandum on the unregulated practice of street checks also known as “carding,”  provided recommendations to the Special Committee to Review the Police Complaint Process, and called for a harm-reduction informed approach to policing in BC.

Other resources

About Pivot Legal Society

Pivot Legal Society, located in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside, works in partnership with marginalized people and grassroots organizations to challenge legislation, policies, and practices that undermine human rights, intensify poverty, and perpetuate stigma.

As an organization, we recognize the importance of handy, accessible, and informative public legal education materials. We work with many people who rely on public space and through this work we have become aware of barriers they face when accessing legal information, education, or services.

To stay connected to our work, please follow us on our social media below or sign up for our e-mail list.

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