Edmonton launches a new program to help identify hate symbols in and around the city

The city of Edmonton announced Friday morning a new program called Lighthouse. The program is a phone app for enforcement officers to use to capture, store and identify hate symbols in and around the Edmonton area.

Over the last four years, the city’s capital city cleanup division has removed 211 graffiti tags that included hate symbols and words in Edmonton.

“We’re actually the first in Canada partnering with this organization,” said Jennifer Flaman, Deputy City Manager, Community Services.

The city partnered with the anti-defamation league, an organization that collects and categorizes hate symbols in a database, in order to simplify the work of enforcement officers.

“It also allows it to be more convenient and easy for the officer in the field,” said Keith Scott, director of Complaints and Investigation.

The app helps investigators track hate symbols and language to better map out where it’s happening and what’s being presented.

“The intent is to use it to analyze, determine trends, look for how we can deploy our officers in a more efficient and effective manner,” said Scott.

According to a spokesperson with the city, 15 enforcement officers have already begun training on the app and roughly 140 will be trained by the end of February.

“Once we start seeing trends and hot spotting, then we’ll be able to provide that information,” said Flaman.

For now, if anyone does come across a hate symbol you can report it by contacting 311. A report on hate symbols will be presented to the community and public services committee on January 16.