Bear Spray - Info session

Hamilton Police Service is advising the community of a concerning increase in youth-related violent incidents, including a rise in the misuse of bear spray during altercations.

Over the past several months, officers have responded to a number of incidents involving young persons engaged in assaults, group conflicts, and weapons-related offences. Of particular concern is the growing trend of youth carrying and deploying bear spray in disputes. Since March 3, police have responded to five incidents, with three youths facing charges.

Bear spray-related incidents have steadily increased each year between 2021 and 2025, representing a 115 per cent rise over the past five years. Youth aged 10 to 19 account for approximately 63 per cent of identified offenders. The most frequently reported offence involving bear spray is assault with a weapon.

Bear spray is designed as a wildlife deterrent and contains a highly concentrated irritant. When discharged in public spaces such as schools, malls, transit, or residential areas, it can cause significant respiratory distress, temporary blindness, panic, and serious safety risks to bystanders. When used against another person, bear spray is considered a weapon under the Criminal Code and may result in criminal charges.

While most youth in Hamilton make positive choices and contribute meaningfully to our community, the recent increase in violence highlights the need for proactive education, prevention, and enforcement.

In response to this trend, Hamilton Police have launched Project Breathe Easy, a targeted initiative aimed at reducing bear spray-related violence in the community.

Project Breathe Easy includes increased enforcement and high-visibility patrols in identified hotspot areas, proactive engagement with youth, compliance checks at retailers selling bear spray to ensure adherence to applicable legislation and responsible sales practices and ongoing monitoring and intelligence-led response to emerging concerns. The initiative combines enforcement with education to address both access and misuse.

“We don’t see a lot of bears walking around Hamilton. The reality is, we don’t have a bear problem — we have a youth safety problem that needs to be addressed,” says Chief Frank Bergen. “We’re not here to alarm families — we’re here to support them. At the same time, we are taking enforcement action where necessary to keep our community safe.”

Community Information Sessions

In addition to enforcement efforts, Hamilton Police are hosting a series of community information sessions aimed at parents and caregivers.

The sessions will focus on:

• Current youth violence trends
• The risks and legal implications of bear spray misuse
• Warning signs parents should be aware of
• How social media contributes to conflict escalation
• Strategies for prevention and early intervention
• Available community and mental health resources

Both in-person and virtual sessions will be offered to ensure accessibility for families across Hamilton. The virtual session will include breakout rooms in Arabic, Urdu, and French to support inclusive community dialogue.

In-Person Session

• Tuesday, April 14 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Central Library, 55 York Blvd, Hamilton
• Thursday, April 16 from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. at Valley Park Library, 970 Paramount Drive, Stoney Creek
• Tuesday, April 21 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Les Chater Family YMCA, 356 Rymal Road, Hamilton

Virtual Session

• Tuesday, May 12 at 5:30 p.m. Platform details will be provided upon registration. Register at [email protected]

Hamilton Police emphasize that youth violence prevention requires collaboration between families, schools, community organizations, retailers, and law enforcement.

Early conversations at home, awareness of peer dynamics and online activity, and engagement in positive activities are among the strongest protective factors for young people.

“These sessions are about education, prevention, and accountability,” adds Inspector Frank Miscione. “We want parents to feel informed and supported, and we want youth to understand there are real consequences when weapons are brought into conflicts.”

Members of the community are encouraged to attend and participate in the discussions.

For more information, please visit www.hamiltonpolice.on.ca.