Bars in Laval are adopting a secret signal to help patrons who are feeling unsafe

Aninitiative in Laval is trying to help bar patrons feel more comfortable, by offering them a secret signal they can use to inform wait staff that they are feeling unsafe.

If someone orders a drink called an'Angelot' at one of the participating bars, an employee will escort them to a safe place. In English, this kind of initiative is often called an 'Angel shot' or 'Ask for Angela.'

The program is being organized by a group called Social Collective, a non-profit run by the Quebec Student HealthAlliance (ASEQ).

The group is training staff in 15 bars and restaurants in Laval to identify signs of sexual violence and harassment. It's being supported by the city of Laval and Collge Montmorency.

Andranne St-Gelais, director of theSocial Collective, said that this kind of intervention has been around since 2017 in the United States and the United Kingdom.

St-Gelaissaid the program they are running differs in that it directly trains restaurant andbar employees to intervene in situations by becoming an "active bystander."

"So what we do is we train staff members to actually recognize sexual violence happening and what kinds of sexual violence is most susceptible to happen in bars. And then we also give them tips and tricks on how to intervene, sometimes in a discrete way but sometimes also in a more confrontational way when the situation needs that," saidSt-Gelais.

St-Gelaisexplainedthat once a person asks for an 'Angelot'and goesto a safe space, they can have a seat, get some water, ask an employee to call them a taxi, be escorted to their car or leave through the back door.

She said it's up to the person to decide what they want to do next.

She said it's a sad reality that college-aged students have to worry about this kind of thing, but building what she calls "a network of safe bars" located close to CEGEPs and universities will help people feel comfortable going out.

With the addition of 15 bars in Laval, there will be45 businesses in the Montreal area associated with this initiative.

Participating bars will have a logo outside indicating they are part of the network. Find a full list of participating bars here.

Harold Brunet-Stringer is the co-owner ofCarlos & Pepe's Restaurant at Centropolis in Laval. His restaurantis the first in Laval to incorporate the 'Order an Angelot' program.

"It's really a beautiful program, it's a great cause," saidBrunet-Stringer. "It'll be a better environment for the customers to come in and that's the goal."

Brunet-Stringer said his staff have responded well to the newresponsibility.

"They were all really proud of the measure," he said. "They will have every tool in their hands to come and prevent and act if this happens."