Over the last two years, Oak Bay resident Ashley Migneault noticed a rise in neighbour-on-neighbour bullying in her grandmotherB次元官网网址檚 neighbourhood.
B次元官网网址淎lthough my grandma ignores it, itB次元官网网址檚 been a frustrating experience to watch, to say the least,B次元官网网址� Migneault said.
But instead of venting her frustration on Facebook and social media circles like most do, Migneault decided to turn all that negativity into something positive: by creating Neighbours Against Bullying, a support and advocate group based in her grandmaB次元官网网址檚 neighbourhood which is now online at neighboursagainstbullying.com.
Within days of launching the site, they received multiple stories from neighbours who live within her neighbourhood whoB次元官网网址檝e had similar experiences.
B次元官网网址淭hese experiences range from having animal control called with zero cause, to having dogs screamed at from over the fence, to having video of their home and likeness posted online in local Facebook groups,B次元官网网址� Migneault said. B次元官网网址淭he thread that connects all of these experiences is the helplessness that these people felt before realizing there were other people in the same neighbourhood going through similar experiences.B次元官网网址�
Her end goal is to support people who feel as though theyB次元官网网址檝e been targeted by their neighbours, and to provide the support and resources they can use to navigate through the murky waters of these experiences.
Serious neighbour-versus-neighbour altercations happen very rarely, but if it does escalate to a criminal level, Oak Bay police try to deal with the situation at the earliest point they can, said Andy Brinton, Oak Bay Police Chief Constable.
B次元官网网址淚nitially, itB次元官网网址檚 not often criminal in nature per se, but if left unnatended, it can escalate,B次元官网网址� he said, adding that if police get involved, usually itB次元官网网址檚 more as a mediation role,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淪ometimes thereB次元官网网址檚 misinformation on both party sides, sometimes itB次元官网网址檚 bylaw issues, so weB次元官网网址檒l bring the municipality into that. If it does ever escalate to a criminal level, weB次元官网网址檙e certainly going to get involved.B次元官网网址�
Brinton emphasized that often, those involved are not B次元官网网址渃riminal-typesB次元官网网址� so an alternative, or restorative justice, or some kind of resolution isnB次元官网网址檛 far from reach.
Still, when emotions run high, some situations get out of hand quickly.
B次元官网网址淏y the time we get a call, people have tried to deal with it themselves and there hasnB次元官网网址檛 been any resolution, and emotions start flying, so itB次元官网网址檚 kind of our role to sort of break things down as best we can, de-escalate it, and find the root problem,B次元官网网址� Brinton said, adding that criminal harassment and mischief is the policeB次元官网网址檚 main concern, such as following people, damaging property and physically/verbally attacking an individual.
Though such cases are rare, some pursue civil remedies, such as a restraining order or an injunction filed by a civil court.
But civil action between neighbours isnB次元官网网址檛 always such a great idea either, Brinton added.
B次元官网网址淭hatB次元官网网址檚 not something weB次元官网网址檇 like to see, because you still have to live next door to each otherB次元官网网址� as soon as you start going into a formal process like that, youB次元官网网址檙e never going to rebuild that relationship.B次元官网网址�
For more info on Ashley MigneaultB次元官网网址檚 Neighbours Against Bullying group, visit neighboursagainstbullying.com.
