On October 29, the Student Association of George Brown College (SAGBC) announced it has temporarily closed the SafeWalk program. The decision was made due to the rising number of COVID-19 cases in the Greater Toronto Area and a lack of use in the service, due to the majority of students studying remotely.

“With the pandemic now in its second wave and with the prospect of more students at the College being reduced throughout November and December, the board yesterday decided that it would be best not to continue for the health and safety of both the staff and students at the school,” says Chris Yalousakis, SafeWalk coordinator at the SAGBC.

According to Yalousakis, the program, which provides free walk accompaniment around George Brown campuses, only administered five walks this semester.

“It hasn’t been as many as previous years, it’s pretty low so it hasn’t been that well used,” says Yalousakis.

As for students employed under SafeWalk, other work opportunities have been made available through the virtual aspect of the program and its services.

“It’s only the in-person programming that has been suspended for now, it hasn’t been suspended throughout Winter, it’s only for the rest of the semester. The staff that are on SafeWalk right now, are going to be re-signing for virtual programming where necessary,” says Yalousakis.

SafeWalk will continue with virtual programming focused on understanding and managing aggressive behavior, a training all SafeWalk staff are given, according to Yalousakis. First aid courses and basic virtual theory for first-aid will also be offered.

“We’re moving on how to get employees reassigned or having them work elsewhere in the organization,” said Yalousakis. “We don’t have the numbers yet for Winter, so in terms of occupancy, that decision hasn’t been made yet, but it will be in weeks ahead.”