VPD holds first BC-wide sex crimes symposium and expands women's safety workshops
The Vancouver Police Department ran the first province-wide sex crimes symposium for officers this October and reports its women's personal safety workshops have now reached over 15,000 participants since 2012.
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The Vancouver Police Department held the first province-wide sex crimes symposium for BC law enforcement in October 2026 and says its Women's Personal Safety workshops have now served more than 15,000 women since the program launched in 2012, according to a VPD announcement on October 30.
The symposium, organized by Senior Crime Analyst Ryan Villamin of the VPD's Special Investigation Section, was held at the Roundhouse Community Centre. It brought together officers from law enforcement agencies across British Columbia to share knowledge on legal challenges, investigative psychology, and methods specific to sex crimes. The goal, the VPD says, is to foster inter-agency collaboration so police across the province can prevent and investigate sex-based violence more effectively. Staff Sergeant Astrid Bonter was among those who took part.
Workshops have grown from two to eight per year
The Women's Personal Safety workshops are led by Inspector Colleen Yee and Sergeant Alice Yee and funded by the Vancouver Police Foundation. When the program started in 2012, it ran two workshops per year. The VPD now holds at least eight per year. The most recent session had 175 attendees, double the usual number, the VPD said.
The workshops cover how to recognize predatory behavior, how offenders choose targets, how to respond to common attacks, and how to report crimes to police. Sessions are free and open to women in the city. The VPD says the program has also helped police services in other parts of Canada, the Asia-Pacific region, Eastern Europe, and New Zealand develop their own versions.
What residents can do
Women in Vancouver can attend the workshops at no cost. Sessions are held at least eight times per year. Information about upcoming workshops is available at vpd.ca, or you can contact VPD headquarters at 2120 Cambie Street, open daily from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm.
Questions this story answers
What is the VPD's Women's Personal Safety program?
The Vancouver Police Department's Women's Personal Safety Team program offers free workshops to teach women how to recognize predatory behavior, understand how offenders choose targets, respond to common attacks, and report crimes. The program was launched in 2012 and is funded by the Vancouver Police Foundation. It is led by Inspector Colleen Yee and Sergeant Alice Yee. The VPD reported on October 30, 2026 that the program has served more than 15,000 women since it started.
How often are the women's personal safety workshops held?
The Vancouver Police Department's Women's Personal Safety workshops now run at least eight times per year. When the program launched in 2012, it held two workshops annually. The most recent session, reported on October 30, 2026, had 175 attendees, which the VPD described as double the typical attendance. Women in Vancouver interested in attending can contact the VPD at vpd.ca or call VPD headquarters at 2120 Cambie Street, open 8:00 am to 5:00 pm daily.
What was the first BC-wide sex crimes symposium about?
The Vancouver Police Department held a sex crimes symposium in October 2026 at the Roundhouse Community Centre. It was the first event of its kind to bring together law enforcement officers from across British Columbia. Senior Crime Analyst Ryan Villamin of the VPD's Special Investigation Section organized it. Topics included legal challenges, criminal investigative psychology, and investigative methods specific to sex crimes. The goal was to help agencies across BC share knowledge and work together.
Who organized the sex crimes symposium?
Senior Crime Analyst Ryan Villamin of the Vancouver Police Department's Special Investigation Section organized the symposium, according to the VPD's October 30 announcement. Staff Sergeant Astrid Bonter also participated. The event was held at the Roundhouse Community Centre in Vancouver in October 2026.
How do the women's workshops help women in Vancouver?
The workshops teach practical skills: recognizing predatory behavior, understanding how offenders select targets, how to respond to common attacks, and how to report crimes to police. The VPD reported on October 30 that one participant had been in a 25-year abusive relationship. The program is free and open to women in Vancouver. It is funded by the Vancouver Police Foundation, which supports VPD programs not covered by the city's police budget.
Has the program spread outside Vancouver?
The VPD says its Women's Personal Safety Team has helped develop similar programs across Canada, the Asia-Pacific region, Eastern Europe, and New Zealand, according to its October 30 announcement. The exact number of programs developed elsewhere is not stated in the announcement. The Vancouver program remains based at the VPD and serves women in the city.
What is the Vancouver Police Foundation?
The Vancouver Police Foundation is a registered charity that funds Vancouver Police programs not covered by the city's police budget. It funded the VPD's Women's Personal Safety Team program from its start in 2012. The Foundation also supports other VPD initiatives, including equipment and community outreach programs. Its work is separate from the VPD's annual operating budget, which the City of Vancouver sets.
How can a woman in Vancouver attend one of these workshops?
The VPD's Women's Personal Safety workshops are free and run at least eight times per year in Vancouver. Information about upcoming sessions is available at vpd.ca. You can also contact VPD headquarters at 2120 Cambie Street, Vancouver, open daily from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. The program is funded by the Vancouver Police Foundation and led by Inspector Colleen Yee and Sergeant Alice Yee of the VPD.
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