UOSU PRESIDENT JACK COEN AND COORDINATOR JADE FORTIN DETAIL THE REVIVAL OF THE SERVICE
In late October a new, yet familiar service for U of O students returned under a different name, the Safe Walk Program, once known as Foot Patrol. The program is a resource for Gee-Gees to utilize if they’re seeking to walk safely between locations. Two volunteers can accompany any student on a walk for a number of reasons, mainly security and safety. The program is run by the University of Ottawa’s Student Union (UOSU) and their team of trained volunteers.
The program, known as Foot Patrol, was shut down last year due to a 10% budget cut. UOSU’s current President, Jack Coen, noted the decision of his predecessor, Delphine Robitaille, cutting the program was not made lightly.
Coen detailed, “there was a lot of overhead in the organization that, at the time, we didn’t have the flexibility to get out of, but now we’re in a much more stable position.”
Coen pointed to the overhead costs of Foot Patrol as the key driver of the decision to cut the program. Organizational structure (including the communications budget, salaries, a complicated management structure and social events contributed to high costs) contributed to each Foot Patrol walk costing UOSU an estimated $800. After the budget cut was in effect, this cost wasn’t sustainable.
Coen noted the surplus for the 2025-2026 UOSU budget is $224,836.00. This means UOSU has more resources available to run programs such as Safe Walk, while Jack noted the previous budget was much tighter, causing the shutdown. He detailed that the former budget had a substantially smaller surplus due to salaries and big contracts with external consultants or providers that past UOSU executives deemed as an unnecessary expense for students.
Additionally, an important shift in the centralization of the program has allowed for reduced costs. The centralization has impacted communications and volunteer coordination, therefore decreasing the cost-to-walk ratio. This has allowed for more flexibility in improving the program.
Safe Walk Coordinator, Jade Fortin, emphasized the need for Safe Walk’s return as many students voiced their concerns online, on platforms such as reddit, regarding safety concerns while the program was not running. Upon the program’s return, Fortin reported they received positive feedback from both students and parents.
Fortin also noted that volunteers must submit Vulnerable Sector Checks, a police record check before participating. Volunteers then receive adequate training for their responsibilities, including training for sexual violence prevention. Fortin explained that she personally worked with volunteers through training to ensure both students and volunteers are comfortable with each other.
Students can visit the Safe Walk Office in the University Centre to request a walk in-person, or call the office and schedule one in advance. Additionally, the program is now offered for students travelling up to 20-30 minutes off campus, making it a more accessible security option. During these walks, students seeking more privacy can request an Incognito Walk, in which “students and staff [can] be accompanied by two student volunteers, without badges, vests, or any identifiers.”
In the future, Fortin plans to organize workshops to educate students on how to walk safely, prepare themselves for harsh weather conditions, and self-defense training to ensure students have the necessary knowledge available.
Safe Walk is usable for students to use between 8:00 p.m. and 2:00 a.m., and is currently seeking more volunteers to expand their hours of operation. To contact the office or book a walk, call 613-900-7184. For any issues, complaints or incidents, students are free to reach out to Fortin, the Safe Walk Coordinator at safewalk-coord@seuo-uosu.com.
