Strong Cities brings global effort to PG

The Strong Cities Network is a global coalition of municipalities focused on preventing hate, extremism and polarization through collaboration, information sharing and practical community-based solutions. Founded 11 years ago, the network now includes 300 cities worldwide, with Prince George recently becoming one of its newest members.

Eric Rosand, Global Chair of the Strong Cities Network, said the organization was established to recognize the important role municipalities can play in addressing social challenges before they escalate.

“It was started about 11 years ago, with the goal of really elevating the role that local governments, which are the closest level of government to the people, the role they can play in preventing hate, extremism, polarization and division that, if it’s not prevented, could ultimately lead to violence and disruption of society,” Rosand said.

While issues such as extremism and hate crimes are often associated with large cities or international events, Rosand said the digital age has fundamentally changed that reality.

“The number of cities that are impacted is much greater than ever before, in part because of the online shift,” he said. “So much of this is online. It doesn’t matter whether you’re in the largest urban centre in the country or the most remote community in the country. If you have access to the internet, that’s changed.”

The roundtable focused on challenges including hate speech, online disinformation campaigns, cyber harassment and the growing impact of polarized online spaces. Participants examined how those issues are affecting communities in northern British Columbia and discussed ways different sectors can coordinate prevention and response efforts.

Prince George officials say joining the Strong Cities Network provides opportunities to learn from municipalities around the world that are facing similar issues.

Community leaders noted that incidents such as sextortion scams, online harassment campaigns and even online activity linked to mass casualty events demonstrate how digital threats can have very real consequences at the local level.

“Hearing about some of the terrible sextortion and mass casualty events that were being generated. Well, we are far away from that, and still we should understand what’s going on as best we can,” one participant said during discussions surrounding the city’s decision to become involved in the initiative.

Rosand said local governments are often the first institutions residents turn to when concerns arise, making them important partners in prevention efforts.

“Local governments are the grassroots level of government,” he said. “They’re the level closest to residents and closest to understanding what’s happening inside communities.”

Unlike federal or provincial governments, municipal leaders regularly interact directly with residents and community organizations. Those relationships can help identify emerging issues, build trust and develop coordinated responses before divisions deepen.

The Prince George session is also intended to serve as a launching point for longer-term collaboration.

Organizers say the goal is to create a local coalition of organizations that have expertise or an interest in addressing online harms and strengthening social cohesion. That coalition would work together over the coming months to develop a Prince George-focused approach tailored to the city’s size, needs and resources.

“Coalition of organizations throughout the city that have expertise in this, that have interest in this so that we can, over the next four to six months, roll out a program that’s a Prince George-sized program,” organizers said. “The goal is to have that local network in place within four months.”

The effort reflects a growing recognition among municipalities that online issues can no longer be viewed as separate from community safety. False information, harassment and digital intimidation can influence public discourse, increase tensions between groups and affect individuals’ sense of belonging in their communities.

By bringing together representatives from public safety, education and community sectors, organizers hope to create stronger communication channels and shared strategies for addressing emerging concerns.

For Prince George, membership in the Strong Cities Network offers access to experiences and best practices from hundreds of other municipalities worldwide. For the network itself, Rosand said communities of all sizes have valuable lessons to share.

As online communication continues to blur geographic boundaries, he said the challenges facing cities have become increasingly interconnected.

“The extent to which the online world has changed and the pace at which it’s moving, that’s changed,” Rosand said.

Participants left the roundtable with plans to continue discussions and build partnerships aimed at improving prevention efforts, enhancing community safety and strengthening social cohesion across the region.

For a city located thousands of kilometres from many global hotspots, the message of the day was clear: in the digital age, no community is truly isolated from online harms, and collective local action remains one of the strongest tools available to address them.

by Cheryl Jahn

Strong Cities brings global effort to PG

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