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North America Regional Hub: Strengthening Community Cohesion and Countering Online Hate — Operationalising Local Prevention Efforts in Edmonton

Publication Date:

19/11/2024

Content Type:

Event Reports

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Community CohesionEdmontonFoundation for a Path ForwardHate SpeechNorth America Regional HubOnline hate

Summary

On 16 October 2024, the Strong Cities Network and Foundation for a Path Forward with support from Canadian Heritage hosted a one-day workshop with the City of Edmonton, (Alberta), Canada, which focused on addressing threats posed by online hate and the interplay between online and offline harms. This workshop brought together Edmonton city leaders, community-based organisations (CBOs), law enforcement and practitioners to examine Edmonton’s hate landscape and discuss community-based solutions for strengthening cohesion amidst a complex and dynamic threat environment.  

Discussions explored good practices and challenges with the City’s ongoing efforts to implement its Anti-Racism Strategy, with a particular focus on how the strategy can help mitigate and prevent online harms. The workshop also provided an opportunity for the City’s Data Science and Research team to introduce and gather feedback on a new data-driven concept to strengthen city-led efforts to address online hate, which could be piloted in Edmonton and then replicated in a tailored fashion among interested cities in Canada and beyond. The workshop underscored a shared commitment to addressing online hate and resulting polarisation, drawing on lessons from recent global crises impacting local communities across North America.

Key Findings

• Edmonton’s hate landscape is evolving, becoming more complex and unpredictable. Online hate narratives are targeting communities and public officials and fuelling polarisation and undermining social cohesion. Hate crimes and doxing incidents involving public officials are on the rise in the city, underscoring the urgent need for new strategies and tools to monitor and address hate effectively.
• The City continues to explore ways to use data-driven insights and collaborations with CBOs to proactively monitor and respond to online hate and to support communities impacted by online hate.
• Inclusive city-supported programming and open dialogue with communities are key ingredients of a comprehensive approach to counter online hate and foster positive narratives.
• The Mayor’s office can serve as a central hub and convener for supporting community-based anti-racism and prevention efforts.

Key Themes

1. Understanding the Online Hate Landscape in Canada

Katherine Keneally, Director of Threat Analysis and Prevention at the Institute for Strategic Dialogue (ISD), provided an overview of Canada’s evolving online hate environment, noting the rapid escalation of online disinformation and its ability to fuel offline violence. She highlighted how content that elicits emotional responses often circulates faster than fact-based information, which complicates response efforts. This environment, she said, allows bad actors to exploit gaps before official information can counteract disinformation, which often leads to real-world impacts on communities, public officials, and vulnerable groups.

In response, Keneally emphasised the importance of timely, consistent fact-checking and messaging from trusted community leaders, such as faith leaders and local organisations, to help counter the spread of harmful narratives. Engaging with community leaders to enhance public awareness and understanding of these tactics was also underscored as a proactive approach to addressing online hate’s influence on local communities.

2. Understanding the Local Hate Landscape and Initiatives to Address it

Stephen Camp and Nuha Dhooma from the Organization for the Prevention of Violence (OPV) presented an in-depth analysis of Edmonton’s hate landscape specifically, drawing connections to Canada’s broader threats and challenges as shared by Keneally. Camp pointed out that the absence of a standardised hate crime definition across Canada complicates responses and leads to inconsistencies in enforcement. This lack of uniformity, he added, affects law enforcement, social services and community organisations in the different provinces, who each handle hate-related incidents differently. Among other things, this creates barriers to comprehensive victim support.

As part of an effort to offer a more holistic response to hate incidents in Edmonton, OPV’s EVOLVE programme, combines offender intervention with specialised psychosocial support for victims. Camp noted that these efforts go beyond immediate interventions by providing a continuum of care and rehabilitation that supports victims and reduces recidivism among offenders. Additionally, Camp and Dhooma highlighted OPV’s educational and community engagement initiatives that involve CBOs in research and support services, ensuring responses are both community-centred and resilient.

Camp and Dhooma also discussed the implications of Canada’s proposed Bill C-63, which calls for the establishment of a Digital Safety Commission with the authority to regulate harmful content online. If approved, this bill, designed to target content that foments hatred and incites violence, would represent a significant policy shift, as Canada currently lacks comprehensive digital safety legislation. Through the regulatory oversight it provides, the legislation could help build a safer digital environment, allowing OPV and other organisations to focus more attention on supporting victims and engaging ‘at-risk’ individuals before hate manifests into real-world violence.

OPV’s work, including in raising awareness about hate indicators and risk-reduction strategies, demonstrates how a community-based, multi-disciplinary approach can not only provide meaningful and sustainable support for communities affected by hate but can contribute to hate prevention efforts as well.

3. Exploring City-Led Innovations in Online Hate Monitoring and Response

Kris Andreychuk, Project Manager at the City of Edmonton’s Data Science and Research Team, introduced participants to his team’s concept for an early-warning system aimed at monitoring online trends in and supporting city-led response to hate. He outlined how the system, built around Edmonton’s commitment to actionable data, is designed to leverage open-source information from news sites, blogs and public forums to forecast hate trends and potential incidents. Andreychuk emphasised that Edmonton’s approach prioritises ethical data use, avoiding personally identifiable information while instead focusing on identifying sentiment patterns and emotional cues that could indicate emerging threats. This framework, developed in collaboration with a data ethics advisor, seeks to balance robust monitoring with responsible data use to protect privacy and build community trust.

Andreychuk highlighted that his team’s approach addresses the City’s need for quick and unified response capabilities. As part of this, the system would generate automated communication assets—such as social media toolkits, press releases, and public service announcements—that can be rapidly deployed to address incidents in real-time, keeping the public informed and engaged. By focusing on expediency and consistency, this approach aligns with the City’s broader priorities related to public safety and community resilience.

Participants offered constructive feedback on the concept. They stressed the importance of collaboration with law enforcement and public safety practitioners to ensure that insights generated by the tool are contextually accurate and actionable. Andreychuk noted that integrating law enforcement’s expertise and formulating clear, information-sharing agreements will be crucial to overcoming potential issues of siloed responses and to aligning actions across City departments.

They also raised broader considerations, such as how to build credibility and ensure the City’s technological tools remain free from bias. Participants discussed potential challenges to engage trusted community influencers to amplify the City’s messages and address misinformation proactively. Participants also discussed the efficacy of this tool being hosted by the City as opposed to a CBO or other non-governmental entities and to ensure that those involved in developing the concept were continually keeping in mind the needs and perspectives of its ultimate beneficiaries, i.e., communities across the city.  They also explored ways to validate AI-generated insights through human oversight, enhancing the system’s reliability and strengthening public trust.

Andreychuk concluded by reemphasising the overarching goal of the concept – which is still being refined – is to operationalise a data-driven response system that empowers Edmonton to anticipate and counteract hate trends in real-time, ultimately promoting a safer and more cohesive community. If operationalised, the tool could be scaled to more cities for the same benefits.

4. Empowering Local Government and Community-Based Actors

City and community leaders from across Edmonton shared examples of collaborative and other efforts to address on- and offline hate in Edmonton, including ones where the City is working with CBOs to build trust and resilience in local communities.

For example, Inspector Michelle Greening of the Edmonton Police Service (EPS) shared insights into EPS’ proactive efforts to build trust with local communities, which can then lead to a greater willingness report hate crimes to EPS. She noted that through improved reporting mechanisms and more consistent community outreach and trust-building efforts, EPS is helping address hate crime data deficits that result from underreporting by community members who may lack trust in the police or government more broadly. As a result, she said her team is now able to identify and address incidents that may have historically been overlooked.

She highlighted how Edmonton’s centralised online hate reporting platform, which integrates mental health and community support through partnerships with organisations like OPV, has positioned it as a leader in hate crime reporting and response. Greening also advocated for the expansion of partnerships with CBOs from across the city to enhance data collection on hate incidents and further strengthen the City’s efforts.

Shani Gwin, founder of pipikwan pêhtâkwan, an Indigenous owned, led and majority staffed public relations and engagement agency dedicated to amplifying Indigenous voices, truths and stories, discussed her work developing an AI-based social media monitoring tool tailored for Indigenous communities, designed to recognise and address hate speech, while taking into account cultural sensitivities. She highlighted a critical gap in AI technologies, which are often built on mainstream perspectives that do not fully capture the unique experiences of Indigenous people. Gwin emphasised that without culturally adapted AI, there’s a risk of perpetuating harmful biases, further marginalising these communities. Her tool allows Indigenous users to categorise, block or respond to hate speech depending on its severity, with educational tools that address bias and provide users with an opportunity to engage constructively. She said that this model of culturally specific AI addresses issues that mainstream tools may overlook, such as the need for Indigenous perspectives in content moderation to protect and empower Indigenous voices online.

Atif Hirjee, an award-winning teacher from the W.G. Wagner School, provided a grassroots perspective, presenting ‘Journey to Racism’, a student-led initiative that empowers youth to confront and counteract online hate. Hirjee emphasised the importance of fostering youth leadership and encouraging students to take a stand against hate, especially given the rise in hate incidents targeting young people online. By equipping students with skills in advocacy and critical thinking, the programme promotes active anti-racism and a culture of positive change. Hirjee advocated for more inclusive funding and collaboration models, enabling youth-led initiatives to gain momentum and support. He also emphasised that supporting youth is vital for sustained impact, calling on Edmonton’s stakeholders to create inclusive spaces where young people feel valued and empowered to lead.

Together, these examples showcase a commitment among diverse local actors to address hate and strengthen social cohesion across Edmonton. Panelists further underscored the importance of strong collaboration between local government, CBOs and educational institutions, each bringing unique strengths to the table. Greening and Gwin both highlighted that consistent support, particularly through culturally sensitive tools and inclusive partnerships, is essential for lasting impact. However, the conversation also highlighted challenges in Edmonton’s collaboration efforts. While there is significant goodwill and ongoing initiatives to address these challenges, many efforts remain siloed, with stakeholders often unaware of each other’s work. For instance, this workshop marked the first time many participants from across sectors gathered to engage on these issues collectively.

The conversation concluded acknowledging the learnings and shared experiences from this workshop will aid in addressing these gaps and fostering better alignment among stakeholders with calls for increased funding models that ensure the sustainability of grassroots efforts. Participants underscored that the City also plays an important role in overcoming the identified siloes by raising awareness of what diverse local actors are doing and providing a platform for such actors to coordinate and streamline their efforts.

5. Preparation is the Best Prevention: Key Learnings from Scenario-Based Tabletop Exercise on Crisis Communications and Response

Participants worked through a hypothetical scenario-based tabletop exercise involving escalating hate threats against local communities, simulating real-world hate-motivated incidents. The exercise highlighted the importance of proactive, pre-established relationships with community organisations, enabling swift and cohesive responses in times of crisis. Key takeaways from the exercise included:

• Develop a Centralised Community Resource Network: Participants agreed that the City and relevant community-based actors would benefit from a centralised, shared resource list of trusted CBOs, allowing rapid engagement during incidents. This network would support communication with diverse groups and offer a reliable foundation for mobilising resources and support across the city in times of heightened threat.

• Establish Strong, Proactive Relationships with CBOs: The exercise highlighted the critical need for pre-existing, trusted relationships with community leaders, especially within marginalised and targeted communities. These relationships ensure the city can mobilise support quickly and facilitate collective responses, such as solidarity events or public support statements, to demonstrate visible commitment to the affected communities.
• Centralise Response Coordination through the EOC: Activating Edmonton’s Emergency Operations Center (EOC) during incidents involving hate-motivated threats would allow for a unified and organised city response. Participants said that using the EOC as a coordination hub for public messaging, security measures, and collaboration with police, community leaders, and social services, the City can streamline decision-making and ensure clear, consistent communication with the public.
• Implement Sustainable Funding for CBOs: Participants discussed the limitations of one-time grant funding, highlighting the need for a continuous funding model to enable CBOs to sustain impactful hate prevention programmes. Continuous funding would allow these organisations to prepare proactively and engage effectively over the long term, fostering community resilience and readiness.
• Use Consistent Public Messaging and Community Engagement: Proactive, consistent messaging from city officials, including visible support from Mayor Sohi and City Council, was identified as essential to building public trust and countering the spread of hate. Specific actions, such as painting pride flags on sidewalks or issuing solidarity statements, can be immediate responses that reassure communities. The exercise also emphasized the importance of engaging youth and marginalized groups in ongoing dialogue, underscoring Edmonton’s commitment to inclusivity and accountability.
• Coordinate with Law Enforcement for Clear, Supportive Statements: Participants noted the importance of coordinated statements from both the City and EPS, condemning hate incidents and signalling that perpetrators will be held accountable and victims will be supported. Working closely with the RCMP and EPS, the City should ensure timely and supportive communications that reinforce the city’s stance on public safety and community support.
• Leverage Social Media for Positive Messaging and Rapid Response: Social media can serve as a powerful tool for countering hate narratives and promoting unity. Edmonton should consider creating templated social media toolkits and public statements that can be quickly customised and deployed by multiple actors to address incidents as they arise. This rapid response would help combat harmful messages and provide a consistent, city-backed narrative.
• Prepare Schools and Youth-Focused Organisations to Support Affected Students: The exercise stressed the need for schools to play a proactive role in supporting students affected by hate incidents, especially those involving identity-based harassment. Schools can be encouraged to offer counselling services, organize support events, and communicate directly with students and parents to create a safe and supportive environment during crises.
• Plan for Post-Crisis Reconciliation and Community Restoration: A post-crisis strategy focused on reconciliation and restoring trust is vital for community healing. The city can organise public events, ceremonies, or gatherings that symbolize a commitment to addressing hate and reinforcing community cohesion. Such events, alongside culturally sensitive communications, would signal Edmonton’s dedication to repairing relationships with impacted communities and fostering resilience.

Next Steps

Through insights from this workshop, along with learnings from Strong Cities’ global membership and its peer-to-peer learning events, the Strong Cities North America Regional Hub will continue to support the City of Edmonton’s ongoing efforts to implement its Anti-Racism Strategy. For its part, the City is actively using feedback from the workshop to explore new approaches and leverage existing programs and partnerships to enhance the delivery of the strategy. Following this workshop, Edmonton officials also presented its early warning system concept at the Strong Cities conference in Victoria, BC, on ‘Preventing Hate & Building Social Cohesion Amid Global Crises: Unleashing the Potential of Cities in Western Canada & the Western United States’, held on 30 — 31 October 2024.

Practices shared during the workshop and captured in this event report will also be integrated into the Strong Cities Resource Hub, which houses a library of living guides and toolkits on mayoral leadership and city-led action to prevent and respond to hate, extremism and polarisation. In addition, to build on the Resource Hub’s growing City Spotlights Library, Strong Cities will partner with city officials from the workshop to create spotlights capturing their local governments’ inspiring and innovative prevention efforts.

Additional Resources

• Anti-Racism in Our City, City of Edmonton
• Evolve Program – Evolve Program
• Global Crises, Local Impacts Initiative webpage, Strong Cities Network
• Global Crises, Local Impacts: Key Findings & Recommendations to Date, Strong Cities Network (April 2024)
• A Guide for City-Led Response, Strong Cities Network (updated May 2024)
• A Guide for Cities: Preventing Hate, Extremism & Polarisation, Strong Cities Network (updated May 2024)
• A Guide for Mayors: Preventing and Responding to Hate, Extremism and Polarisation, Strong Cities Network (updated May 2024)
• Resources for Cities: Addressing Hate & Extremism, Strong Cities Network (updated May 2024)
• Navigating Local Impacts of Global Crises: Ten Considerations for Mayors and Cities – Lessons from the Israel-Gaza Crisis, Strong Cities Network (December 2023)

Donors and Partners

Contact Information

For more information on this event and the Strong Cities North America Regional hub, please contact [email protected].

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