In response to the recent tragedy in Tumbler Ridge, a Victoria mother has launched a petition to the BC government calling for more standardized safety protocols in BC schools.
Leslie Lovatt says that she sees certain gaps in the safety measures schools have in place and she wants there to be consistency throughout the province’s schools.
Specifically, Lovatt wants to see three practices become standard: keeping exterior doors locked during school hours, installing secure video intercom systems at main entrances and standardizing visitor check-in procedures.
She says that these issues are implemented at some schools, but not all.
“I honed in on the three issues because many schools across Canada, and even BC already keep the doors locked during school hours and have intercom systems to screen visitors,” Lovatt told Victoria Buzz.
“It doesn’t seem right to have this safety precaution in place for some kids, but not others.”
She added that if these practices were standardized, parents could breathe easier, knowing that their kids are safe.
“I compare it to locking my doors at home and checking the peephole or through the window before answering the door — such a simple step.”
On the matter of locked doors, Lovatt says that on several occasions, she has walked right into her kid’s Victoria school, only to find no one in the front office, and that worried her.
“After the Tumbler Ridge incident, as well as some other concerning incidents within BC — Central Middle School, Victoria 2024 — I became more concerned about how easy it is to enter some schools unnoticed,” she explained.
“I was also concerned that nothing would be done to address this, so I decided to try to gather support regarding this simple idea.”
Lovatt has emailed some members of the Greater Victoria School District (SD61) and some of the leaders in her kids’ school. Additionally, her partner has discussed the initiative with the principal at their kids’ school.
However, so far she has only received an email reply from the vice principal of the school and SD61 board members have yet to reply to her.
Thus far, the petition has received 357 signatures.
Lovatt is hopeful that more parents will sign the petition and that it will catch the eye of BC legislators.
“I’m not sure how many signatures I need to inspire change, but I feel like a number in the thousands would definitely help,” she concluded.
