December 10, 2024

This message is sent on behalf of Galib Bhayani, Chief Safety and Risk Officer. It has been sent to all faculty and staff. A similar message will be shared with students.

In recent months, there has been an increase in discussion among the SFU community about safety on our campuses. Though our campuses remain safe, as we move into the holiday season and campuses slow down, I want to share some safety-related updates and resources that are available.

Our campuses exist within broader communities in Burnaby, Surrey and Vancouver, and we work closely with local authorities and community groups to ensure we are striking a balance of public access to our campuses, while supporting the safety of our core communities of students, faculty and staff.

SFU's Campus Public Safety (CPS) team is dedicated to supporting a safe environment and we take all safety concerns seriously.

This year we have introduced several new measures to support safety on our three campuses:

• As part of community safety pilot in response to community feedback at SFU Burnaby, Blusson Hall exterior doors are now secured overnight, on weekends and on holidays.
• Working in consultation with primary stakeholders at the Vancouver campus, as well as the Vancouver Police Department and Downtown Vancouver Business Improvement Association, we have made changes to address safety concerns, including securing washrooms.
• The SFU Safe app was launched in September to ensure SFU community members have safety information readily available and easy to access. SFU Safe can be downloaded on Apple or Android devices.

All reported safety incidents are reviewed and responded to. In instances that require police involvement, the institution supports local authorities with what they need to conduct their investigation, while providing support to community members impacted. Due to privacy regulations and to avoid impeding active investigations, what we can share with the community is determined by the responsible authority.

As a reminder:

• With fewer people on campus over the holiday period, faculty and staff should take care to lock up valuables and secure your space. Don't forget to lock your doors, close your curtains and secure electronics and keys out of sight. For a full list of ways to secure your space, visit our Theft Prevention Safety Guide.
• If you need urgent campus security assistance, First Aid, or someone to walk with you to another location, please reach out to the Campus Public Safety, call 778-782-4500. In an emergency, always call 9-1-1 first for police, fire or ambulance.
• Help is available for anyone who has experienced or observed an incident that has impacted their well-being or sense of safety. Please connect with our university-wide supports: https://www.sfu.ca/sfu-community/community-supports.html

We continue to work hard to ensure our campuses are a safe place for our community to study, work and play.

Sincerely,

Galib Bhayani

Chief Safety and Risk Officer

Simon Fraser University