New secret signal program to prevent sexual violence in bars expands to Ontario

A program to prevent sexual violence in bars has made its way to Ontario.

Designed by the Montreal-based non-profit organization The Social Collective, the ‘Order an Angelot’ program launched last year to help bars, clubs, and festivals prevent and intervene in scenarios connected to sexual violence.

How the system operates is that patrons in active distress can approach a bartender, server, or other staff member and request an ‘Angelot’ cocktail.

Staff will then assess the ongoing scenario in an active bystander capacity and prevent potential escalations.

The program accredits locations nationwide and trains staff to approach scenarios with an emphasis on early intervention, safety, and role-playing to ensure patron safety.

The Social Collective indicates that sexual violence has impacted 4.7 million women across Canada, with marginalized groups such as Indigenous women, LGBTQIA2S+ individuals, and people with disabilities experiencing these incidents on a disproportionate scale.

As the ongoing crisis of sexual violence towards women remains all-pervasive, the genesis of the ‘Order an Angelot’ program occurred during the pandemic, as young Canadians entering the bar scene were doing so without defensive experience due to lockdowns.

“A lot of people turned 18 or 19 around 2021/2022 didn’t have the same experiences we had back when we were that age. Because we had a chance to go to bars and parties, and these kids didn’t get this chance, and then all of a sudden, for them, everything is back up and running,” Gisele Pouhe Njall, director general for The Social Collective, told INsauga.com.

With the threat of sexual violence running parallel to a new, inexperienced generation going out for the first time, Njall and her team mobilized the Angelot program in 2024.

Starting in Montreal and then expanding, over 150 locations in Canada now offer the service, with three currently residing in the Greater Toronto Area.

Patrons who enter any of these locations will know help is available as stickers showcasing the Angelot logo — a cocktail with angel wings — will be visible on the front door, behind the bar, or in areas like restrooms.

“It just makes sense, as a customer, to walk into a bar and see this logo. In that moment, you know you are going to be okay,” says Njall. “It does not mean that nothing will ever happen, but what it does mean is that the staff is trained.”

Njall went on to note that the end goal of The Social Collective is to have the Angelot program become a feature in as many venues across Canada as possible.

However, even with that guiding principle, Njall’s team is fully aware that no two spaces are created the same, and that a fully staffed bar of 15 people in Toronto will have different requirements than a rural pub.

“Sometimes it happens, and there are only one or two members of staff in rotation, but we still have a duty to train them. We have to tailor the training to their needs, because the reality is, it is going to be very different than in the city,” says Njall.

Beyond the staff intervening on behalf of the patron, there is also the patron themselves, and much like any bar or restaurant worker should know, the duty of care for a patron does not stop when they leave through the front door.

This sentiment is carried into the Angelot program, as after intervening in a potential scenario, staff are also trained to supply support after the fact for when the patron leaves.

“They always leave with resources, for instance, a crisis helpline that makes sure that you don’t feel alone afterwards, and maybe you won’t feel like calling after, and that’s great. But, maybe, a few days later you might need someone, and when you do, you will have the resources available to contact them,” says Njall.

As for how and The Social Collective plan to become a household name in venue safety, Njall indicates that — beyond phone calls and knocking on doors —  word of mouth has already helped the Angelot program expand across the country.

However, Njall also acknowledges there is plenty more work to be done.

“We do understand that people need to get to know us,” she says. “It comes down to keeping open communication with all available groups and resources,  and with that, get an already established network to expand.”