A local organization geared toward supporting those who experience or witness hate-motivated acts has resumed services and is planning to be more present in the community, at a time when more people are feeling isolated and afraid to speak out.
The Sarnia Lambton Alliance against Hate (SLAH) launched in 2021 but became dormant due to funding cuts at the United Way. The organization relaunched in early 2025 after it received funding from Lambton County Developmental Services.
Program Coordinator Ashley Cechovsky said SLAH also works in collaboration with the John Howard Society of Sarnia Lambton, Sarnia Police Service, and Lambton Kent District School Board.
Cechovsky said the organization connects people with local agencies and offers support through an online reporting tool.
"We provide connection in the community through other agencies, social services, and religious institutions, we also provide grief counselling, referrals, and education," Cechovsky said. "Ultimately, SLAH believes that connection and conversation is the key to understanding, empathy, and open dialogue in the community."
While it may be easy to turn a blind eye to certain instances, Cechovsky said hate-motivated acts do occur and are often underreported.
"I find, it does stem from fear. They might not want to cause trouble, they feel like they're an inconvenience if they speak out about something they've witnessed or been exposed to," she said. "What I see here, just through online reporting and out in the community, is there's still a lot of challenges with social media."
With the option of anonymity, Cechovsky said some people will say things over social media they wouldn't normally while standing face-to-face with another person.
"So that could look like racism online, homophobia, transphobia, there's a lot of political discourse here. Politics is a big contributing factor I find," she said. "People are saying, quite honestly, some pretty horrible things to each other. We forget, I think, when that happens that there are real people behind the screens who are impacted by that, especially our young folks here."
Cechovsky said especially now with the situation between Canada and the U.S., there's a lot of divisiveness in the community and people are feeling isolated.
She's currently in the process of organizing a "Sarnia Elbows Up" rally on April 26 under the Blue Water Bridge, which would include the local community and those in Port Huron, Michigan.
"That need for connection right now in Sarnia is huge and SLAH is really aiming to provide a safe environment where people can use their voice," Cechovsky said.
In the meantime, SLAH also works with schools and businesses to offer workshops and facilitate discussions. Cechovsky said they will also offer emotional support to those who are nervous about filing a police report.
"I always like to say, my door is always open," she said.
While SLAH works to get everything up and running again, Cechovsky said they hope to be at the Age-Friendly Expo in May and be involved in PrideFest this summer. She said any upcoming events will be shared on social media.