A reminder that access zones are in place to protect students, staff and families from disruptive and harmful protest activities at school. 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 are in effect on school days from 7:00 am–6:00 pm and during extracurricular school activities at all of BC’s K–12 public and independent schools, with limited exceptions.
A Q&A document is available to support the education sector with the implementation of access zones. In the event of disruptive protest activity at a school, administrators 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. Please continue to report any incidents of protests or disruptive behaviours or activities to ecc.strategicpriorities@gov.bc.ca.