Community-Based Hate Reporting Program

In response to recent high-profile hate activity in Durham, the Region of Durham has partnered with Victim Services of Durham Region (VSDR) to launch a Community-Based Hate Reporting Program—the first of its kind in the Greater Toronto Area.

Developed in consultation with human rights and religious organizations, as well as local community service providers, the program, which is being run by VSDR and offered in multiple languages, consists of:

• An online tool that allows individuals to securely and confidentially report incidents of hate—even those that do not meet the threshold of criminality.
• Access to wrap-around services, including immediate crisis response, counselling, practical assistance, and referrals for additional support.
• The program accepts both anonymous reporting and witness-submitted reports to enhance data collection, which will help inform future strategies and provide more accurate aggregate data to uncover trends and patterns of behaviour about hate incidents in Durham Region. 

Report a hate incident

Did you know?

• Hate-motivated crimes/incidents in Durham Region increased by 77 per cent from 2023 to 2024.
• This program aligns with the Durham Regional Police Service Hate Crime Unit, offering an alternative for those may not be comfortable, or are unable to report directly to police.
• Research shows hate activity is significantly under-reported. According to Statistics Canada’s 2019 General Social Survey, Canadians self-reported over 223,000 hate-motivated incidents in one year, yet only 22 per cent were reported to police. Barriers to reporting include language challenges, fear of retaliation, normalization of hate, and uncertainty about where to report.
• Community-based hate reporting programs have been successfully implemented internationally and locally, including in Hamilton, Waterloo, Chatham-Kent, and Ottawa, but the program is the first of its kind in the Greater Toronto Area.

 Taking a stand against hate in Durham Region

The Community-Based Hate Reporting Program builds on the Region’s other anti-hate initiatives, including Together Against Hate Durham, a three-phased campaign that launched in October 2025 and provides educational tools and resources so municipalities, organizations, institutions, and individuals can take meaningful action against hate in all its forms.

A Community Healing Toolkit is also being created for community leaders and ambassadors throughout Durham Region and offers trauma-informed and culturally affirming guidance for restoring well-being, healing and resilience following a traumatic incident.