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

Part 4: 4 Minutes Without Oxygen — A Letter to Those Using Fentanyl, Cocaine, or Anything That Can Steal Your Brain

One Fall Away: A Series on Helmets, E-Bikes & Brain Injuries

Part 4: 4 Minutes Without Oxygen — A Letter to Those Using Fentanyl, Cocaine, or Anything That Can Steal Your Brain

By Tina Winterlik aka Zipolita

📝 If you are someone who uses drugs, or love someone who does, please read this. This isn’t judgment. It’s not shame. It’s care. It’s truth. And it might save a life.

It Only Takes 4 Minutes

Four minutes without oxygen—and your brain begins to die.

First your memory. Then your speech. Then the part that keeps you alive.

If You Use Alone…

If you collapse and no one finds you… you may survive, but never walk, talk, or feed yourself again.

Why I Call Transit Police

Because I’ve seen people passed out on benches—unmoving. And no one stops. But I do. I call Transit Police. Because it could be the difference between life and death—or a lifetime of brain damage.

This Is Not About Shame

I don’t care what you’ve used. I care that you’re still here. That your brain still matters. That your story’s not over—if you protect yourself.

What Can You Do Right Now?

• Never use alone
• Carry Narcan and learn CPR
• Use at supervised sites if possible
• If you see someone down—check on them

Please Think About This

Brain injury doesn’t just hurt you. It changes the lives of everyone around you. Don’t gamble with your brain. Don’t leave your story unfinished.

We’re all one fall away.
Let’s not let silence or stigma be what kills us.

Border Control Breakdown

 "Border Control Breakdown: Why Are Convicted Foreign Nationals Going Missing in Canada?"

By Tina Winterlik aka Zipolita 
August 1, 2025

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“This is shocking.”

That was my first thought reading the latest update from the Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA). According to their own numbers, nearly 600 foreign nationals with serious criminal convictions have vanished in Canada. These are individuals already under deportation orders—some with convictions for sexual assault and violent crimes—and yet, they’re no longer in custody. They’re simply… gone.

How does this happen in a country like Canada?

The CBSA says they don’t have enough space to detain all high-risk individuals. Since several provinces ended agreements to house immigration detainees in provincial jails, the agency has had to make do. Their solution? Release people into the community under supervision programs, like phone check-ins and ankle monitors.

But clearly, the system is not working.

Let’s be clear: many people detained for immigration reasons do not pose a danger to society. They are asylum seekers, refugees, people stuck in limbo due to administrative mistakes. But this isn't about them. This is about known criminals, people convicted in Canadian courts, being released and disappearing, while everyday Canadians are expected to trust that the system is protecting them.

This breakdown has serious implications:

• Public safety is at risk.
• Trust in our institutions is eroded.
• Victims of crime may feel like justice has been undermined.

And while this happens, we still see people—especially Indigenous, racialized, and poor communities—being overpoliced, overcharged, and over-surveilled. So who exactly is being protected?

Where's the accountability?

The federal government has promised oversight. There’s talk of better infrastructure, new high-security facilities, and independent reviews. But what’s actually changed? For years, the system has relied on provincial jails, and now that provinces have opted out, there’s chaos.

Meanwhile, the CBSA doesn’t even know where these 599 individuals are. In some cases, they’ve been missing for years.

I ask again: How does this happen?

Time for real answers

This isn’t about fearmongering. This is about demanding competence, transparency, and fairness from those in power. Whether you care about justice, immigration reform, or basic public safety, this story affects all of us.

Canada needs to do better.

And we need to keep asking questions.

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🗣️ What do you think? Should we be investing in community monitoring, or are there cases where secure detention is necessary?
Let’s talk about it. Comment below or share with someone who cares.

📌 Follow my blog for more updates on immigration, justice, and human rights in Canada.

#CBSA #DeportationCrisis #ImmigrationDetention #CanadaNews #PublicSafety #ZipolitaWrites #JusticeInCanada #HumanRightsCanada #AccountabilityNow #TinaWinterlik