Today, access zones around K-12 schools have been established through the Safe Access to Schools Regulation to preserve safe access to education by protecting students, staff and families from disruptive and harmful protest activities at schools.
On May 16, 2024, Government passed the Safe Access to Schools Act providing the ability to establish access zones around K-12 schools through regulation. Effective today, access zones are now in place at all K-12 schools and police can arrest or issue tickets to anyone found impeding access, disrupting, or interfering with educational activities or attempting to intimidate an individual within 20 metres (66 feet) of school property. These zones will be in effect on school days from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. and during extracurricular school activities at all of B.C.’s K-12 public and independent schools, with limited exceptions. Child care centres located on school grounds are included within the access zones during the effective times.
A Q&A document has been prepared to support the education sector with the implementation of access zones. In the event of disruptive protest activity at a school, administrators should continue to follow local district policies and procedures. Districts continue to be able to rely on Section 177 of the School Act and the accompanying Provincial Guidelines, as well as the provisions of the Trespass Act, and the Criminal Code continues to apply.
Please continue to report any incidents of protests or disruptive behaviours or activities to ecc.strategicpriorities@gov.bc.ca.