Hate crime incidents increasing in Greater Sudbury
When Bela Ravi first moved to Canada from India in the 1970s, she said it was very difficult.
An undated aerial photo of Greaeter Sudbury, Ont. (File Photo/City of Greater Sudbury/LinkedIn)
"It is very hard to leave everything you know behind and come to a new place, be it the language, be it the food, be it the culture – it is very hard," she said.
"And just getting that pushback is devastating because I've been through it myself back in the 70s. It is devastating. It's sleepless nights. It's wanting to just disappear at times. You know, it is very hard to deal with."
Ravi is now the president of the Sudbury Multicultural and Folk Arts Association.
She told CTV News that in the three decades she’s been in Sudbury she’s felt nothing but welcome so it is hard to hear there is an increase in hate crimes in the community.
"People see someone who’s different, who walks different, eats different, looks different, you know," she said.
"They don't have the education or the background on what immigration does for a city, a country."
Recently released statistics show an increase in hate crimes reported in the Greater Sudbury area over the last few years. In 2019, the Greater Sudbury Police Service had three reported hate crime incidents. In 2021 that number jumped to 10 and to then to 31 in 2023. (Graphic by CTV News Northern Ontario)
In 2019, the Greater Sudbury Police Service had three reported hate crime incidents.
In 2021, that number jumped to 10 and to then to 31 in 2023.
Det. Sgt. Steve Train, of Greater Sudbury Police Service, told CTV News that while hate crimes are historically under reported, since adding an online reporting option in 2022, he feels more people feel comfortable coming forward, especially newcomers to the community.
Detective Sergeant Steve Train of the Greater Sudbury Police Service speaks with CTV News about the rise of hate crimes in the city. (Lyndsay Aelick/CTV News Northern Ontario)
"That really builds the community trust to know that we're here, we're open to listen," he said.
"That's a response from the community because with these types of offenses, it's a community problem. We want to address it so that we all live in a free, open society and our communities are safe for everyone."
Train said that in 2023, 20 out of the 31 incidents were related to race and ethnicity, while religion and sexual orientation were other types of motivation in other incidents reported.
The criminal code states people can face imprisonment if found guilty of hate crimes, so Sudbury police said they strive to first focus on education.
"I use young offenders (as an example). They may paint a swastika not knowing the impact or what that really means. So, we'll have to do the education piece," said Train.
"That's where you really kind of look at it and why we capture those stats, so that we can guide and educate before punish and incarcerate and ... hold people accountable. Because, again, we want to educate the public in what it means and words can hurt. And then, if they perpetuate from there … then, we want to know before tragic incidents that we see happen."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Canadian family stuck in Lebanon anxiously awaits flight options amid Israeli strikes
A Canadian man who is trapped in Lebanon with his family says they are anxiously waiting for seats on a flight out of the country, as a barrage of Israeli airstrikes continues.
Suspect in shooting of Toronto cop was out on bail
A 21-year-old man who was charged with attempted murder in the shooting of a Toronto police officer this week was out on bail at the time of the alleged offence, court documents obtained by CTV News Toronto show.
Scientists looked at images from space to see how fast Antarctica is turning green. Here's what they found
Parts of icy Antarctica are turning green with plant life at an alarming rate as the region is gripped by extreme heat events, according to new research, sparking concerns about the changing landscape on this vast continent.
DEVELOPING 2 dead after fire rips through historic building in Old Montreal
At least two people are dead and others are injured after a fire ripped through a century-old building near Montreal's City Hall, sources told Noovo Info.
Yazidi woman captured by ISIS rescued in Gaza after more than a decade in captivity
A 21-year-old Yazidi woman has been rescued from Gaza where she had been held captive by Hamas for years after being trafficked by ISIS.
A 6-year-old girl was kidnapped in Arkansas in 1995. Almost 30 years later, a suspect was identified
Nearly 30 years after a six-year-old girl disappeared in Western Arkansas, authorities have identified a suspect in her abduction through DNA evidence.
Dolphins 'smile' at each other when they play and to avoid misunderstanding, study finds
For humans, flashing a smile is an easy way to avoid misunderstanding. And, according to a new study, bottlenose dolphins may use a similar tactic while playing with each other.
Pit bulls in B.C. pet mauling tested positive for meth, cocaine, says city
Three pit bulls involved in a deadly attack on another dog last month in Kamloops, B.C., tested positive for methamphetamine and cocaine, and the city is going to court to have them put down.
Tax rebate: Canadians with low to modest incomes to receive payment on Friday
Canadians who are eligible for a GST/HST tax credit can expect their final payment of the year on Friday.