Unclear if Osheaga's new safety measures for women are working

The Osheaga music festival in Montreal introducednew measures designed to help protect womenat this year's event, after a woman last year said her drink was spiked and security didn't help herbut it's unclear if those efforts are making a difference.

• Osheaga incident highlights sexual assault problem at festivals
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Earlier this summer, the festival's promoter,Evenko,announced it was adding the Hirondelles,or "Swallows," to the festival's safety and security operations.

The Hirondelles area group of mobile security teams spread through the site who are specially trainedto help women and vulnerable people.

The group had three kiosksand about 30members in total, according to their sign, but it's not clear how much they helped concertgoers who were not already aware of their presence.

'You always have those drunk guys'

Despite not necessarilybeing aware of the Hirondelles, many women who attended Osheaga Saturday said they felt safe.

"I was, like, in a bralette also yesterday. I felt totally safe, no one touched me," said Justice Clark.

Clark said she has been coming to the festival for yearsand felt that this year's edition was well done.

"I was not looking for them, so I don't really know if it is easy, but I saw spaces like that, yes," Camille Valletsaid aboutthe Hirondelles.

StephanieLacroixsaid she hadn't noticed the Hirondelles teams, but addedshe hadn't been there long.

"Usually what happens at festivals is that you always have those drunk guys that try, like, to grab you or something like that, so it's fun to know there are spaces," she said.

"All I remember is the people with the aqua or turquoise T-shirts," said Alianna Chisholm. "They were like people you could ask questions to.I didn't notice anyone with a Swallowarmband though."

Male festival goers interrupt Osheaga interviews about female safety

7 years ago

Duration 0:46

A CBC Montreal reporter attended Osheaga Saturday to see if the festival's efforts to make women feel safe were paying off.

Reporters harassed

On Friday, Radio-Canada reporter Valerie-Micaela Bain was in the middle of a live TV segment at Osheagawhen a man came up from behind herand kissed her on the cheek.

Bainimmediately pushed him away, and continued talking. She later posted about the incident on social media, criticizing the man for his actions, and for interrupting her while doing her job.

Radio-Canada reporter kissed during live segment from Osheaga

7 years ago

Duration 0:13

Radio-Canada reporter Valerie-Micaela Bain was in the middle of a live TV interview at Osheaga when a man came up from behind her right shoulder and kissed her on the cheek.

On Saturday, Radio-Canada issued a statement on Twitter and Facebook.

"Radio-Canada denounces this type of unacceptable behaviour towardsour journalists while working, and the safety of our journalists is of paramount importance for us."

While reporting on women's safety issues at Osheagaon Saturday,a man came up and stood closebehind me.It felt like he touched me.When I confronted him about it he denied it and later apologized. The women then asked me if I felt safe.

Later, when interviewing another woman about her safety, an unidentified maleyelled a vulgar phrase at us.

Safety signs in French only

Women looking for help from the Hirondelles would have found signageat the kiosks were only inFrench, and they would have had to know the mandate of the team in advance.

One of the Hirondelleskiosks didn't include any signage that explained its purpose.

• Osheaga brings together Canadians and Americans

None of the Hirondellesat the kiosks who were approached by CBC News said they were authorized to speak to media andreferred requests to promoter Evenko.

Evenkowas not available for interviews and insteadsent the original news releaseannouncing theHirondellesinJuly.

It was not clear how many members of the Hirondelles were roaming through the crowds, but none were apparent for several hoursSaturday afternoon.