Thanks to the support of our donors and a passionate volunteer team of 30 female VPD officers, the VPD’s Women’s Personal Safety Team (WPST) has been going strong for 10 years now. In that time, the WPST workshops have empowered more than 7,000 women, not only in BC, but across Canada and the globe, to take ownership of their personal safety.
The best part? These workshops are totally free and open to any female aged 16 and older.
With funding from the Vancouver Police Foundation, VPD Inspector Colleen Yee and her sister VPD Sergeant Alice Yee launched the program in 2013 and have been increasing women’s safety and giving back to the community ever since.
“Realizing that there was such an interest and need for this information by women, I felt compelled to find a way to help,” explains Colleen. “We took a very basic program that we premiered at the VPD safety fair in 2012 and developed a comprehensive self-protection program in 2013 which we named the VPD Women’s Personal Safety Team.”
The goal of the WPST is to educate, inspire, and empower women to take ownership of their personal safety. Through both in-person and virtual workshops, this incredible two-hour program teaches concepts and tactics designed to be easily learned and remembered by women with no prior training in case they are ever faced with a situation of unavoidable violence.
The program also touches on recognizing the signs of domestic violence early in a relationship before verbal and/or physical abuse begins. This provides women with the tools and know-how to leave the relationship before they become possible victims. There is also an education piece about the rights women have to fight back an attacker.
“As a woman, I cannot stress enough how valuable this workshop is. Despite knowing that this team has limitations in its capacity, I wish that millions of women will have the chance to learn these lessons to live a little safer, until society has caught on with teaching men how to respect boundaries and women.”
– Former workshop participant, C.R.
Other testimonials from past participants have stated that what they learned saved their lives, while others have shared how their new empowered mindsets make them not only more confident in their personal safety, but also in other areas of their lives.
Don’t delay, sign up now and/or send this information to the women in your life. Remember, it’s completely free and both in-person and online workshops are available.
Upcoming 2023 workshops
Workshops generally last two hours. They are open to women, minimum age of 16 years.
Wednesday, June 7
Seniors Workshop
Killarney Community Centre
11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Register
Thursday, August 17
Online Virtual Workshop
6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Register by August 14
Wednesday, October 4
Mount Pleasant Community Centre
6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Register
Thursday, October 19
Online Virtual Workshop
6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Register by October 16
Saturday, November 18
All-Day Workshop
Vancouver Community College
Check back soon for registration info
The Vancouver Police Foundation supports programs and initiatives that fall under one of four pillars: Youth Programs, Mental Health & Addictions, Community Outreach & Engagement, and Technology & Special Equipment. You can help build a safer Vancouver by donating to the Vancouver Police Foundation.
