Should Surrey, BC Try Something Like Project Jog On?

By Tina Winterlik (Zipolita)

I recently came across a story that caught my attention. At first, I thought it was happening right here in Surrey, BC. It turns out it was actually Surrey, England.

The program was called "Project Jog On." Police officers dressed as joggers and exercised in areas where women had reported being harassed. According to reports, the operation led to multiple arrests for a variety of offences.

Whether you agree with the approach or not, it raises an interesting question:

Should communities like Surrey, BC consider similar programs?

Many women have stories about being followed, catcalled, threatened, or made to feel uncomfortable while walking, jogging, waiting for transit, or simply going about their day. Some incidents may seem minor to one person but can feel frightening or intimidating to another.

The challenge is finding solutions that make people feel safer while also making the best use of public resources.

Would undercover operations help?

Would more visible patrols work better?

What about improved lighting, safer transit stops, community watch programs, or public education campaigns?

There are no easy answers.

What interests me most is not the policing strategy itself, but the larger conversation about public spaces.

Who feels safe using them?

Who doesn't?

And what can we do as a community to make everyone feel more welcome?

As someone who enjoys walking around neighbourhoods, visiting parks, painting outdoors, and talking with people from all walks of life, I think these conversations matter. Public spaces belong to all of us.

Perhaps instead of immediately arguing for or against a specific solution, we should start by listening to people's experiences.

Have you ever felt unsafe while walking or exercising outdoors?

Have you witnessed harassment?

What changes would make you feel safer?

I'd love to hear your thoughts.

Because building stronger communities starts with having honest conversations.

What do you think, Surrey?

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Reflective Questions

1. What makes a public space feel safe to you?
2. Have you ever changed your routine because you felt unsafe?
3. What role should police play in preventing harassment?
4. Are there community-based solutions that could help?
5. How can cities make parks and pathways safer?
6. What is the balance between safety and privacy?
7. Should more resources go toward prevention or enforcement?
8. How can people report incidents more easily?
9. What responsibilities do bystanders have?
10. What would an ideal safe community look like?

#SurreyBC #CommunitySafety #PublicSpaces #Neighbourhoods #WalkingTogether #SafeCommunities #PublicDiscussion #CivicEngagement #MetroVancouver #ZipolitaWrites

Public Art or Public Harassment? When Words in Public Space Hurt

 🎨 Public Art or Public Harassment? When Words in Public Space Hurt

Several times over 🌸 spring, ☀️ summer, and 🍁 fall, I ride my bike 🚴‍♀️ from Kitsilano to Jericho. It’s a beautiful ride — cherry blossoms 🌸 in spring, golden leaves 🍂 in fall — and I soak in the sights. I walk my dog 🐕 and cat-sit 🐈 for survival, unhoused 🏚️, but I treasure these moments of freedom and calm.

But then… there it is. That ⚠️ sign with bizarre, disturbing messages: “she does pills,” “she doesn’t listen,” and more 😳. It bears the Vancouver Biennale’s name 🎨, but this is not art in any comforting sense. It feels like harassment in public.

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Imagine:

• You are grieving 💔 a loved one and take a peaceful ride to clear your head. You’re trying to feel a little joy amidst the pain. You glance up at this message board and read words like “she does pills.” The calm shatters. 😢
• A mother 👩‍👧, already stressed, notices her child struggling with self-harm ⚠️. She sees the message “she doesn’t listen” and her chest tightens with guilt and fear 😔. She feels powerless, ashamed, and alone.
• A neighbor 👀, simply enjoying a sunny day ☀️, passes the board and can’t help but feel unease 😟. Something meant to inspire thought instead spreads discomfort and anxiety.

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💡 Words have power. Public messages, even “art,” are not neutral — they carry weight, affect moods, trigger memories, and can worsen mental health crises.

And here’s another reflection: why do we allow this? Why do we tolerate a system where artists often depend on wealthy patrons 💰 or corporate funding, and vulnerable members of the public must absorb whatever bizarre “creativity” those rich people impose on public space? This is yet another reason why Basic Income for Artists 💵🎨 matters — so that creators can focus on uplifting, meaningful, inclusive art rather than being forced to produce work to please the rich, and so the public isn’t subjected to harassment disguised as art.

I can’t help but ask:

• How does this affect children 🚸 riding their bikes or walking home from school in the neighbourhood?
• What responsibility do artists 🎨 and public art programs have to ensure messages don’t harm vulnerable people?
• Can art be provocative without causing distress, harassment, or fear? Where is that line drawn?

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🖼️ Artwork: Vancouver Novel
👨‍🎨 Artist: João Loureiro (Brazil)
📍 Location: 3474 Point Grey Road, Vancouver, BC

I hope Vancouver Biennale clarifies whether this is the artist’s intent or if the piece has been abused. Either way, it raises important questions:

• How do we protect our public spaces 🏙️ from harm?
• How do we ensure art uplifts 🌟, rather than harasses ❌, the community?
• And how do we respond when something meant to inspire ✨ instead disturbs and isolates those already vulnerable?

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💭 Calls to Reflection

1. Have you ever encountered words in public 🏞️ that hurt or unsettled you unexpectedly? How did it make you feel?
2. How might children 👶/teens 🧑‍🎓 interpret messages like “she doesn’t listen” in their daily environment?
3. How can communities 🤝, artists 🎨, and public programs balance creativity with empathy ❤️ for vulnerable people?
4. Should public art 🏛️ be monitored to prevent harassment or harm ⚠️? How would that work?
5. How do we respond when a space meant to inspire ✨ instead triggers pain 😢, fear 😨, or guilt 😔?
6. How could Basic Income for Artists 💵🎨 change the art we see in public, making it inclusive, thoughtful, and uplifting rather than a reflection of wealthy whims?

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Public art should invite participation, reflection, and joy 🌟 — not confusion, distress 😟, or harm ❌. With better support for artists and thoughtful oversight, perhaps our shared spaces 🏙️ can truly inspire instead of disturb.