Representatives of Ottawa’s diverse community organizations are welcoming Thursday’s announcement that the Ottawa Police Service (OPS) has relaunched its hate crimes unit.

The Ottawa Police Service (OPS) has reintroduced a section specifically focused on Hate Crimes, which will further enhance changes it made to its online reporting system that make it easier for residents to report hate-motivated incidents.

Recently, Ottawa media has been buzzing about how there is no dedicated Ottawa Police Service hate crimes unit, after anti-Black racist graffiti was found on a home in Ottawa's East End.

Dear Friends,

Many of you have been asking for an update on the trial and how you can support the Justice for Abdirahman Coalition.

Please read on to find out.

Please note that there is also a community meeting organized by the Coalition on Friday, February 22, click here for details.

The Ottawa Police Services Board is currently consulting with communities across Ottawa to inform their 2019 to 2021 Strategic Plan.

Over the last few years, concerns have been raised about racial profiling of Middle Eastern and Black young men by the police service through Street Checks and Traffic Stops.

On February 17th, the Ottawa Hijab Solidarity Day was held at City Hall. The City for All Women Initiative (CAWI) partnered with the Ottawa Coalition to End Violence Against Women, the Ottawa Local Immigration Partnership (OLIP), and the Coalition of Community Health and Resource Centres to hold the event.

There has been an increase in hate related incidents in Ottawa reported this October, particularly targeting Muslim women wearing hijab or niqab. The Ottawa Police Service has reached out to the Muslim community and the mainstream media to encourage reporting of these incidents.

After years of working in community development and youth engagement across Ottawa, Hamid Mousa has been working with the Ottawa Police Service (OPS) since 2008. Currently the OPS Community Development Coordinator, Mousa, a Palestinian Canadian, began as a refugee to this country.

Muslim Link is continuing its series Muslims of Ottawa. At the Canadian Muslims for Peace, we asked Muslims who attended: What Does Peace Mean To You? Here is the response of Hamid Mousa who works with Community Development for the Ottawa Police Service.

Muslim Link is continuing its series Muslims of Ottawa. At the Canadian Muslims for Peace, we asked Muslims who attended: What Does Peace Mean To You? Here is the response of youth worker Mohamed Islam, who also sits as the Somali Community representative on the Ottawa Police Service's Community Police Action Committee (COMPAC).