This morning, Access Zones around K-12 public and independent schools were re-established through the Safe Access to Schools Regulation to protect students, staff and families from disruptive and harmful protest activities at schools.
On May 16, 2024, the Safe Access to Schools Act was passed, giving government the ability to establish access zones around K-12 schools through regulation. Access zones were previously established around K-12 public and independent schools through a regulation which was ordered May 31, 2024 and repealed at the end of the school year (June 30, 2024).
Effective today, Access Zones are once again in place 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.
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 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.
