The Comox Valley Airport is now a certified Safe Harbour location and the first airport in Canada to display the decal that promises respectful treatment for all and provides a visible marker for those needing access to an immediate safe space.
“We are so pleased to bring the Comox Valley Airport on board as a designated Safe Harbour location,” said Kathie Landry, Safe Harbour program co-ordinator. “YQQ is already such a welcoming place, and this program is a natural fit with the culture of the airport.”
The certification acknowledges that each employee, as a representative of the airport, is prepared to provide a safe place for individuals being insulted, bullied or harassed and to provide a welcoming environment and treat all members of our diverse community with fairness and respect.
“Our participation in this program publicly displays YQQ’s commitment to provide an inclusive workplace environment where employees, customers and passengers of diverse backgrounds know that they will be respected and safe from discrimination,” said Comox Valley Airport CEO Shirley de Silva.
As part of the certification process, YQQ employees participated in a training workshop that explored stereotyping, privilege and marginalization, as well as practical ways to address discrimination. The training provided staff with an opportunity to learn about diversity and inclusion and provided information about how to respond to requests for an immediate safe space.
Workshop participants were also encouraged to speak about Safe Harbour to other members of their own community.
“The Safe Harbour: Respect for All Program is intended to create opportunities for businesses, institutions, agencies, and municipalities to celebrate differences and help to create safer, more welcoming communities that support diversity and reject discrimination,” said Landry. “The Comox Valley Airport joins more than 50 other businesses in the Comox Valley that have committed to these principles.”
The Safe Harbour: Respect for All program is provided in the Comox Valley by the Creative Employment Access Society through funding from the Government of Canada and the Province of British Columbia.
There are currently more than 1,000 Safe Harbour-certified locations in B.C., Alberta, Manitoba and Newfoundland, co-ordinated by the Affiliation of Multicultural Societies and Service Agencies of BC.
For more information on Safe Harbour, visit www.safeharbour.ca
— Comox Valley Airport