Community-Based Hate Reporting Program

Individuals can fill out a confidential online form to report hate (providing their name or choosing to remain anonymous), which is found on the VSDR website at VictimServices.ca/AntiHate. 

If the individual filing the report has included contact information, a VSDR representative will work with them to determine next steps and supports, which can include but are not limited to, counselling, culturally relevant referrals or practical assistance (such as paying for graffiti removal). 

As a registered charity, VSDR and its staff are responsible for administering the program (providing support, receiving reports, collecting and managing data).

The Region of Durham and its staff are not involved in any day-to-day operations or data management or storage. 

When the program concludes, VSDR will develop a report for Durham Regional Council, which will be shared with the Durham Regional Police Service (DRPS), and religious and human rights organizations. There will be no identifiable information to link any individuals to the program or the situations that occurred. 

The CBHR Program is delivered by VSDR. Durham Region staff do not and will not have access to any personal information. Regional staff will receive only aggregated, de‑identified data through periodic summary reports.  

At the end of this two-year pilot program, VSDR will develop an evaluation report for Durham Regional Council. This report will also be shared with DRPS, religious and human rights organizations and local service providers. There will be no identifiable information within this report to link any individuals to the program or the situations that occurred. 

The concept of hate can feel different for everyone. What one person experiences as hateful may not feel the same to another.  

Hate incidents are non-criminal behaviours perceived to be motivated by bias, prejudice, or hate toward an identifiable group (such as race, ancestry, place of origin, colour, ethnic origin, citizenship, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, marital status, family status, or disability). It may include words, actions, or behaviours. A hate incident is not a criminal offense but can be perceived as offensive or harmful. 
Hate speech and hate propaganda are specific criminal offenses that apply only in narrow circumstances and include advocating or promoting genocide, or public incitement of hatred against an identifiable group. These criminal offenses involve strict legal tests and do not cover most forms of offensive or harmful expression. 

The CBHR Program is focused on helping victims of hate; it is not about investigation or enforcement.  

Doesn’t the Canadian Criminal Code already have hate crime laws?

Yes, Canada’s Criminal Code includes provisions for hate-related offences such as hate propaganda (Sections 318 & 319), sentencing enhancements for hate-motivated crimes (Section 718.2), and hate-motivated mischief (Section 430). These laws exist to hold offenders accountable and maintain public safety. 

However, the Community-Based Hate Reporting Program serves a different purpose: it is victim-centered. Rather than focusing on enforcement, the program provides a safe, accessible way for individuals to report hate incidents online, including anonymously, and receive trauma-informed, culturally relevant support through Victim Services of Durham Region. This ensures that people impacted by hate receive care regardless of whether the incident meets the Criminal Code threshold for a criminal offence.

The CBHR online reporting tool is not a snitch line. It’s an online platform for individuals to report hate incidents and provides an alternative to reporting directly to the police. 

This program offers an alternative to traditional hate reporting methods- the primary focus is on reducing harm and supporting those impacted by hate.  Submissions are handled confidentially by VSDR and there is no enforcement or charge‑laying component within this program. 

No. The Community-Based Hate Reporting Program is designed as a support tool, not a mechanism for persecuting thoughts or feelings. Its purpose is to assist individuals who have experienced hateful incidents by providing trauma-informed care and improve community response. Police involvement only occurs if the person reporting through this program chooses to involve law enforcement.

In Canada, freedom of expression is protected by Section 2(b) of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, but it is not absolute. Under Section 1, rights can be reasonably restricted when justified. One of those limits is hate speech, as defined in the Criminal Code. Expression which rises to the level of detestation of vilification of an identifiable group can be lawfully restricted.

Doesn’t Durham Regional Police Service already deal with hate crimes?

Yes, the Durham Region Police Service (DRPS) responds to hate crimes through calls, emails, or emergency lines. The Community-Based Hate Reporting program provides an alternative for those are unwilling or unable to report directly to the police.  The program was developed in partnership with local service providers, including DRPS, to ensure this anti-hate initiative aligns with others locally and helps improve our collective response to hate.

What is the difference between this program and Durham Regional Police Service’s Hate Crimes Unit?

The Community-Based Hate Reporting Program is designed as a community-centered, victim-focused initiative. It offers an online platform—including the option to report anonymously—that makes reporting hate incidents more accessible. Its primary goal is to provide comprehensive aftercare for individuals who have experienced or witnessed hate, including emotional support, trauma-informed counselling, safety planning, and culturally relevant referrals through Victim Services of Durham region. This ensures that the individuals impacted by hate receive care and resources, even if the incident does not meet the threshold for a criminal offence.

The newly formed Hate Crime Unit at the Durham Regional Police Service collaborated with the project team and informed the development of the Community-Based Hate Reporting Program which provides an alternative for individuals who are unwilling or unable to report directly to the police. 

Who paid for the Community-Based Hate Reporting Program

This program is being delivered in two phases. From the Region, Community Safety and Well-Being allocated Federal government funding they received for the first phase of the program and Regional Council approved an allocation from the 2026 budget for the second phase.