Boyle Street Community Services (BSCS) recently shared angry and hateful voicemails it received with the media on Wednesday, saying it was one example the organization has seen of an increase in hateful and bigoted comments it has received from Edmontonians in recent weeks. has been described.
The voicemail, which BSCS received on November 11, uses rude language and calls on Indigenous people and BSCS to leave Edmonton, suggesting they go to First Nations west of the city. BSCS, which works to help homeless Edmontonians, said it reported the voicemail to the Edmonton Police Service.
“We reported to EPS as an abhorrent incident,” said Elliot Tanti, senior manager of communications and engagement at BSCS. “Boyle Street Community Services abhors this hateful message.
“I think this clearly demonstrates the discrimination that many of our Indigenous people face in our community. But what is particularly appalling is that this person used these words to describe the most marginalized in our society. And they did it through an organization that exists to help people… I think that’s what’s most troubling about this voicemail that we finally received.
Global News contacted EPS for comment on the voicemail and asked if the police department was investigating. A spokeswoman for EPS declined to confirm whether police were investigating, but said the recording was brought to them and police “are following up.” He said that it is too early to comment further on this.
Tanti said that unfortunately discrimination is something that is commonly seen in his work, but said that the shamelessness of allowing such comments to be recorded in voicemails and the recent surge in such sentiments are particularly troubling. Going to do.
According to Tanti, BSCS’s increase in such rhetoric is noticeable since the organization launched community consultations a year ago on a proposal to relocate BSCS to a new building in the city center.
The organization was planning to move from 105 Avenue by Rogers Place to a building at the corner of 101 Street and 107A Avenue near the Victoria School of the Arts, but the move faced some vocal public opposition.
Read more: Boyle Street Community Services’ plan for new Edmonton location facing opposition
Last week, the city’s Board of Subdivisions Appeals revoked BSCS’s development permit.
BSCS has said its current building is “literally creaking” and not accessible to everyone so it needs to be moved so it can continue to serve the approximately 3,000 homeless people living in Edmonton.
Read more: Edmonton homeless aid center loses development permit after appeal hearing
Tanti said that in discussions with the people of Edmonton, BSCS has taken note of the blatant discrimination that has come up in the discussions.
“We don’t think it’s a reflection of the city we live in, but it certainly reflects some of the feelings we’ve gotten as an organization over the last two weeks,” he said.
“We want to make sure people feel welcome, heard, they have an opportunity to discuss this discrimination.”
– With files from Stephanie Swensrude, 630 CHED
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