Letter from Vancouver Island Women's Clinic Re: Moving Protestors Further from the Clinic

October 18, 2013

Mayor and Council Town of View Royal 45 View Royal Ave. Victoria, BC V9B 1A6

Dear Mayor and Council members,

This letter is to inform you that a woman intruded into the clinic on Thursday Oct 10, 2013. This was very upsetting to staff and they felt threatened by someone walking into the clinic and harassing them. The RCMP were called as soon as she left and we are currently in the process of trying to have charges laid for violating the Access to Abortion Services Act. She walked into the clinic and wanted to know what we did, and she said that women "were clearly destroying a life when they choose to have an abortion". After leaving the clinic she joined the protestors at the corner of Helmcken and Old Island Highway. Her intrusion has been recorded by are video surveillance system.

I am writing to request Council to review View Royal by-laws and see if anything can be done to move the protestors further from the clinic and View Royal Square. Businesses, clinics, patients and staff at View Royal Square are very supportive of our work but feel bullied by the presence of the protestors and the signs they carry. The Women's Clinic is a multi-function clinic, providing a variety of services to a variety of women, from menopausal care, to early pregnancy loss (miscarriage) IUD insertions and birth control options as well as abortion care.

While we understand the right to protest, don't we have the right to come to work free from harassment and intimidation? Doesn't the public have the right to access legal health care free from intimidation and threat of being harassed? Isn't this what defines a civil society? Protesting should be done in a public place such as the Legislature or Centennial Square.

The presence of the protestors is frightening and we are always on guard never knowing if they will become more vocal or even physical. We know that they have approached some coming onto the property telling them "not to kill their babies". We know this because people have come in and told us. Staff in the other medical offices and clinics (some providing maternity care) has told us their patients have been approached by the protestors and find this very upsetting.

We feel extremely supported by both the local and broader communities and Vancouver Island Health Authority. We hope that Council can find a way to move the protestors further back from the property.

If you need any additional information, please don't hesitate to contact me.

Sincerely,

Dawn Fowler Clinic Manager