Concern in Sherbrooke following reports of women being followed, harassed at night

Guylaine Cliche was out walking her dog last summer near her home in Sherbrooke, Que., when a car pulled up beside her. She says three men stepped out and split up, as if to corner her.

Cliche turned the other way and started walking faster. The car reversed in her direction, and the men got outagain.

"That's when I thought I'm in trouble here I need to hide."

Cliche's story is one of 13 incidents included in an open letter that was read out during a Sherbrooke city council meeting on March 8.

The letter was a compilation ofpersonalstories fromwomen who had beenallegedlyfollowed, harassed, catcalled,intimidated, and in one case, sexually assaulted in Sherbrooke over the past months.

Cliche eventually found shelter in a nearby homebut the men didn't leave.Four police cruisers were dispatched, but according to Cliche,police didn't file a report and didn't press chargesbecause no crime had been committed.

Wanting to warn other women in her neighbourhood, Cliche postedto Facebook.

The very next morning, her inbox was flooded with accounts ofwomen who hadfound themselvesin the same situation.

"I was so confused and shocked again," saidCliche.

City councillor 'worried' following reports

When the 52-year-old author saw all these stories come together, she decided to compile them and demand action.

The Manifesto for the safety of women in Sherbrooke will be officially presented to city council on March 15. The petition hadbeen signed by more than 700 people, as of Friday morning.

Addressed to the city'spublic safety committee, it asks forconcrete measures to make Sherbrookesafer for example, offering free self-defence classes.

In total, Cliche hasbeen in contact with around 20 women since her original Facebook post.

"I promised these women I would do something," she said. "It has to stop."

City councillor Danielle Berthold, who also chairs thecity's public safety committee,said she is "worried" andtakes the storiesseriously.

"It's hard to believe that a woman cannot walk safely in the streets of Sherbrooke in 2021," said Berthold. "So when women take the time to write something like that, you need to listen to them."

Berthold saysthe file is a priority for the committee.

Safer transportation

ConcertAction Femmes Estrie, a women's rights advocacy group in the Eastern Townships, said safety is one of itstop priorities, along with access to housing andpublic transportation.

The group isnot involved inthis manifesto, butit would likethe citytoprovide better and more accessible bus service.

The Sherbrooke Transit Agencydoes offerto let passengers off between two bus stops after 8 p.m. if they ask for it.

But the groupsays the service, called"Entre deux arrts,"is notwell-known and needs to be advertised more explicitly.

Beyond those tools, Cliche said it's fundamental to havebetter follow-ups from police when a citizen makes a complaint of harassment or intimidation.

TheSherbrooke police service (SPS) refused CBC's interview request, but said they do take these kinds of incidents seriously and that it isimportant for people to call them, whenever they are in a situation where they don't feel safe.

Bertholdis encouraging women and men to come forward whenever they feel threatened. The councillor said police have a duty to serve and intervene in these kinds of situations.

"I know it's discouraging, but we need to have proof to prepare a file," said Berthold. "You need to tell the police what is happening to you, and never think it won't go as far as you want it to go."

In Sherbrooke, 73 per cent of sexual crimes reported to police lead to charges being laid, one of the highest rates in the province, according to Berthold.

Six detectives wereadded to the SPSsexual crimes unit in 2019.

Berthold said crime rates are generally diminishing but she intends to launch asurvey to ask citizens toidentify problematic areas in the city.

Citizens' participation is also essential to improve safety, said Cliche.

"My three sonshave been raised to respect women. I am a single mother and we need to talk about this not only with a feminist approach, but with a citizen's approach."