A transgender woman believes a recent tribunal ruling will pave the way for justice for the LGBTQ+ community in Alberta

The tribunal ruled that while the operators didn’t intend to misgender her, they did discriminate against her. Panas feels that even though the ruling wasn’t in her favor, it will help others in the future. She believes that future judges will see the importance of this case and push for real change.
Panas shared that the operator’s comments were hurtful and minimized her concerns. The tribunal noted that the operator didn’t treat her with the respect she deserved. During her calls, she was repeatedly referred to as “sir,” even after correcting the operator.
Panas had a safety arrangement with her friend, so she was genuinely worried when she didn’t hear from her. The operator’s comments suggested a lack of understanding about her friend’s situation, which added to her distress.
Despite the challenges, Panas wanted to advocate for those who might not have a voice. She emphasized that the Edmonton police need to uphold high standards since they are the only 911 service in the area.
She expressed hope that no one else would have to go through what she did. The Edmonton Police Service acknowledged the hurt caused and stated they are committed to improving their training and policies to prevent similar incidents in the future. They are working on inclusive language and bias awareness to better serve the community.