Reporting Hate, Finding Support – A Toolkit for Communities
This toolkit outlines some key building blocks to reporting and recording hate, while providing support to victims and communities in Canada.
This resource was created by the Canadian Race Relations Foundation as part of its ongoing research on the hate landscape in Canada and in support of the Building Bridges Workshop series (2024-2025).
The toolkit integrates consultations, recommendations, research, guidebooks, and best practices from institutions, organizations, and experts across the country. It also includes qualitative data based on testimonies collected from members of communities touched by hate (women, immigrants, racialized, religious, 2SLGBTQI+, Indigenous, and people with disabilities) in the province of Quebec between December 2022 and March 2023.
Find the resources and links listed in the toolkit
List of support and reporting resources for victims of hate crimes & incidents:
Third-party reporting for hate crimes & incidents
You can report (1) anonymously or (2) on behalf of another person to a third-party service other than the police.
StopRacism third-party reporting:
Vancouver-based third-party reporting platform for hate crime and incidents across Canada, by the Canadian Anti Racism Education and Research Society.
Elimin8Hate (for hate incidents):
Report an incident of anti-Asian racism, available in 11 languages. You can also find resources to support victims of hate or bystanders here.
B’nai Brith Canada’s Anti-hate Reporting (for hate incidents):
Canada-wide anti-hate reporting tracks incidents regionally. It is available online, through hotline (1-844-218-2624), email (reportanincident@bnaibrith.ca), and Anti-Hate App (downloadable at Google Play and App Store).
National Council of Canadian Muslims (NCCM) (for hate incidents):
Canada-wide advocacy for people who identify as Canadian Muslims and have experienced anti-Muslim discrimination, report here. If your matter falls within NCCM’s mandate, they will contact you for further assistance.
IMIRT app (for hate incidents):
NCCM & TAWHEED Community Centre launched in 2024 an online reporting tool for Islamophobia-Motivated Incidents (Google Play and App Store).
Educational resources and practical guides
Reimagining a Path to Support All Canadians (CRRF, 2022).
The CRRF and Hate Crime Task Force’s Advancing Canada’s approach to tackling hate.
From Hate to Hope: Report of the Inquiry into hate in the COVID-19 pandemic (BC Office of Human Rights Commission, 2023).
How Local 2SLGBTQ+ Organizations Can Better Serve Black Communities: 5 ways to create safer and more welcoming spaces for Black 2SLGBTQ+ Communities (Northern Voices Rising and the Enchanté Network).
CyberMisogyny: Using and strengthening Canadian Legal responses to gendered hate and harassment online (West Coast LEAF, 2014).
The Rise of Ideologically Motivated Violent Extremism in Canada (The Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security, 2022).
An Exploration of the Needs of Victims of Hate Crimes (Susan McDonald and Andrea Hogue. Published by the Department of Justice Canada, 2007).
Shift to Action: A Guide to Bystander Intervention: How to put action into your reaction (Edmonton Shift Lab 2.0, 2020).
OSCE Guides Related to Hate Crime (Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe).
Racist and Xenophobic Hate Crime (OSCE, 2021).
Anti-Indigenous Hate Crimes (OSCE).
Understanding Anti-Muslim Hate Crimes: Addressing the Security Needs of Muslim Communities – A Practical Guide (OSCE, 2020). See Annex 1 for Case studies.
Understanding Anti-Semitic Hate Crimes and Addressing the Security Needs of Jewish Communities – A Practical Guide (OSCE, 2017). See the Annex 1 for an Overview of bias indicators.
Security Concerns of Muslim Communities: Responding to the challenge – 10 practical steps (OSCE).
Addressing Anti-Semitism through Education: Teaching Aids (OSCE, 2019).
Community Support Services, including culturally based
Canada Suicide Prevention Service:
Call 911 if you or someone else have tried or seriously hurt yourself or themselves. Contact Suicide Crisis Helpline to have a confidential conversation and explore options if you are in crisis, or feel hopeless, or are worried about someone else. Phone: call or text 988, available 24/7/365.
Kids Help Phone:
Canada’s only bilingual phone and online counselling service for youth. It’s free, anonymous, and confidential. Phone 1-800-668-6868 (24 hours) or text CONNECT to 686868 to reach a crisis responder, available 24/7/365. Online Live Chat: To connect with a professional counsellor from 7 pm to midnight EST daily.
First Nations and Inuit Hope for Wellness Help Line:
A specific resource for First Nations and Inuit to provide immediate, culturally competent telephone counselling, available in English, French and upon request in Cree, Ojibway, and Inuktitut. Phone 1-855-242-3310, available 24/7/365. You can chat live on their website in English or French.
Black Youth Helpline:
Multicultural Youth Helpline and Services serve all youth and specifically respond to the need for a Black youth specific service. To access services, call 416-285-9944 or 1-833-294-8650, email info@blackyouth.ca or contact them online.
Naseeha:
An anonymous, nonjudgmental, confidential and toll free peer support helpline (1-866-627-3342) and text line for Muslims experiencing personal challenges, 7 days a week (12 pm to 3 am EST). Naseeha also provides free online counselling to Canadian residents in English, French, Urdu, Punjabi, Arabic, Turkish, Somali, Bengali, and Swahili. For more information, call 905-890-2365 or email info@naseeha.org.
Act2EndRacism Network
A national coalition working to address COVID-19 related racism and provide support to targets of racism with community resources. Their online and text message reporting (1-587-507-3838) is available now in English, Traditional/Simplified Chinese, French, Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese, and Tagalog.
Elimin8Hate:
Online resources to support victims of hate, especially anti-Asian racism, or bystanders are available here.
South Okanagan Immigrant and Community Services:
This organization provides anti-racism services and initiatives, including an Anti-Racism Resource Handbook.
Egale:
Egale is a Canadian organization for 2SLGBTQI people and issues. It engages in research, education, and advocacy. Its Rainbow Action Hub includes education and resources to combat anti-2SLGBTQI hate, including a list of local 2SLGBTQI organizations.
Reporting online hate on social media
Major social media platforms all provide online reporting and community guidelines, with links below.
Instagram:
How to report
Guidelines
X, formerly Twitter:
How to report
Guidelines
Facebook:
How to report
Guidelines
LinkedIn:
How to report
Guidelines
TikTok:
How to report
Guidelines
Resources for British Columbia
Online reporting (non-police)
Online reporting tools are available in some municipalities to report non-emergency crimes that meet certain criteria, such as property related crimes with no suspect known to the complainant and no element of violence.
VictimLinkBC
Toll-free, confidential, multilingual service (up to 150 languages, including 17 Indigenous languages) available across B.C. and the Yukon.
BC 211
A free and confidential service that connects people to helpful and vital resources in their community by referring them to a broad range of community, government, and social services.
Crime Victim Assistance Program (CVAP)
This program provides financial benefits to eligible victims, immediate family members and some witnesses in coping with and healing from the effects of violent crime by providing a range of benefits.
Third-party reporting for hate crimes & incidents
You can report (1) anonymously or (2) on behalf of another person to a third-party service other than the police.
BC Crime Stoppers
If you wish to report a criminal activity to the police anonymously, you can contact Crime Stoppers by phone at 1-800-222-8477 or online.
StopRacism third-party reporting
Vancouver-based third-party reporting platform for hate crime and incidents across Canada, by the Canadian Anti racism Education and Research Society (a registered non-profit society with charity status). They record data for research purposes and encourage individuals to also report to the police because they don’t share their data with police.
The United Against Discrimination (UAD) Coalition’s portal
Use this online form to anonymously report hate incidents and other forms of discrimination experienced or witnessed. KCR Community Resources is collecting this data to help develop a community protocol to address racism and discrimination in their communities.
BC Human Rights Complaints resource (for hate incidents)
Individuals can file complaints through the BC Human Rights Tribunal. If you experience unequal treatment regarding employment or housing, services, you can file a complaint with the BC Human Rights Tribunal here.
BC Human Rights Clinic
Follow this link to arrange a free 30-minute legal consultation by appointment; for qualified clients, the clinic also provides summary advice, 1–2 hours of legal assistance and legal representation; find more information here or reach the Inquiry Line, Monday to Friday from 8:30 am to 4:00 pm, at 604-622-1100 or toll-free 1-855-685-6222 or email at infobchrc@clasbc.net.
Community Support Services, including culturally based
The Crisis Centre: Contact the Crisis Centre to have a confidential conversation and explore options whether you are in crisis, or simply feel hopeless, or are worried about someone else.
Helplines available:
- National Suicide Crisis Helpline: call or text 988, available 24/7/365 in English or French
- BC Mental Health & Crisis Response: 310-6789 (no area code needed), in 140 languages
- BC Suicide Prevention and Intervention Line:
1-800-784-2433, in 140 languages - Vancouver Coastal Reginal Distress Line:
604-872-3311 - Sunshine Coast/Sea to Sky: 1-866-661-3311
- Seniors Distress Line: 604-872-1234
- Online Chat for Youth: www.YouthInBC.com (Noon to 1 am, PST)
- Online Chat for Adults: www.CrisisCentreChat.ca (Noon to 1 am, PST)
Resilience BC: Anti-Racism Network
You can find your local Resilience BC Anti-Racism Network member on the map or contact the Resilience BC Hub at ResilienceBC@vircs.bc.ca. To learn more about anti-racism tools or training available, check here.
Burnaby Together Coalition:
Informal and formal resources for people who have experienced racism, as well as to identify gaps and opportunities. To engage, email bfl_info@burnabyfamilylife.org.
Tri-Cities Local Immigration Partnership:
Supporting newcomers and resources to address racism. For current programming, call 604-468-6001 or email tricitieslip@success.bc.ca.
North Shore Anti-Racism Network:
Developed a Racism Response Protocol for responding to race and hate-based incidents and crimes; the protocol includes various local resources. For general inquiries, call 604-988-2931 or email office@impactnorthshore.ca.
Directory of IBPOC therapists:
Healing for the IBPOC community.
SNIWWOC Mental Health Services:
Located in BC, provides Canada-wide free therapy to low-income racialized women, including transgender and Two-Spirit community members. To access services, please fill out the request form, including proof of income for eligibility check.
Access Pro Bono:
An independent organization composed of volunteer legal service providers across BC. Check your eligibility online here or by phone (1-604-878-7400). You can find other free legal service providers in BC here if you are not eligible.
South Asian Legal Clinic of BC:
This clinic offers free multilingual legal advice and information to low income people living in British Columbia who identify as South Asian. To book an appointment, call 604-111-3333.
Qmunity:
Qmunity is a resource centre for queer, trans, and Two-Spirit people. They offer, among other things, a free counselling program by Masters level counselling placement students and a low-cost counselling program offered by professional counsellors. Call 604-684-5307 or email kole.lawrence@qmunity.ca.
Prideline (Gay and Lesbian Helpline):
Peer support, information and referrals for anyone in BC, available weeknights from 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm. Call 1-800-566-1170.
Trans Lifeline:
Grassroots hotline offering direct emotional and financial support to trans people in crisis: for the trans community, by the trans community. Call 1-877-330-6366.
Reporting to police
Emergency:
Call 911 if your immediate safety is at risk and immediate action is required (interpretation available in more than 200 languages).
Non-Emergency:
Vancouver Police Hate Crime Department
Hate crimes and hate incidents can be reported by way of the police’s nonemergency dedicated line for hate crimes and incidents 604-717-3321 or by email: vpd.diversity@vpd.ca (not monitored 24/7). To document an incident with no safety risks, no physical evidence, and no identifiable suspects, scroll down to Reporting a Hate Crime to access a PDF form available in multiple languages Document all information including texts and videos.
Victoria Police has hate crime coordinators, but no dedicated hate crimes unit: Report hate crimes and incidents by way of the police’s nonemergency complaint line 250-995-7654.
BC Hate Crime: Provincial resource that provides assistance and support to local police departments investigating hate crimes and hate incidents. Phone (toll free): 1-855-462-5733. Email: BC_HATE_CRIMES@rcmp-grc.gc.ca
RCMP (Hate Crime Reporting): Available in all provinces. Click here to report online.
Police-based Victim Services: These respond to all types of crime as well as non-criminal, traumatic events such as accidental death. Find your closest services from the online directory or other resources here.