Alberta Hate Crimes Committee

The Alberta Hate Crimes Committee (AHCC) is a non-profit organization collaboration of educators, community members, government, and law enforcement who work together to raise awareness and education related to hate crimes and incidents in Alberta.

In 2001, shortly after the attacks on the World Trade Centre in New York City, Alberta-based representatives from the justice sector, government, law enforcement, human rights institutions and community organizations concerned with hate and bias motivated violence formed what would become the Alberta Hate Crimes Committee.

The initial aim of the committee was to develop a province-wide framework to encourage a collaborative, integrated approach between law enforcement, the courts, and the community in preventing and responding to hate and bias motivated crime and incidents as well as enforcing hate crime laws. Today, the vision of the Alberta Hate Crimes Committee is to ensure that all Albertans are living in a safe, caring, and respectful community where crimes and incidents of hate are not acceptable values of a democratic and pluralistic society.

Committee membership includes key policing, community, education, non-profit, human rights and government partners knowledgeable in the delivery of hate/bias crimes and incidents prevention, education and response.

Our Goals and Objectives are to

Promote awareness about issues related to hate crimes and incidents by:
- Supporting collaborative and cooperative development of awareness initiatives that are relevant and responsive to community needs
- Developing educational materials and resources by advocating for shared and consistent education and training for services providers and community members
- Supporting law enforcement, government and community partnerships that bring attention to the negative impact of hate activities on community life

Addressing the needs of victims of crime and incidents motivated by hate by:
- Advocating for increased support to victims of hate motivated activities
- Encouraging the development of support mechanisms that promote the safety of victims and facilitate their active involvement in the criminal justice process

Enhancing government and community responses to hate crimes/incidents by:
-Sustaining commitment to comprehensive dialogue regarding response models that address the challenges associated with diverse communities responding to hate motivated crimes
- Enabling Albertans to contribute to solutions through dialogue, problem solving and community action
- Reducing gaps and avoiding duplication of services by encouraging coordination and collaboration within the broader community, amongst service delivery providers, police services and government departments
- Providing counsel to policy makers, service providers, educators, media and community advocates
- Advocating for consistent, standardized data collection and the communication of emerging trends, issues, and concerns within agencies and their constituencies