In light of six B.C. women recently receiving a $750,000 settlement tied to being secretly recorded in a washroom at work, a sexual-harassment prevention organization is highlighting the responsibility employers have to prevent abuse in the workplace.
“The non-consensual sharing of intimate images is something that has become more prevalent in the last few years,” said Stacey Forrester, co-founder of Good Night Out Vancouver, which provides training and workshops aimed at preventing sexual harassment.
“This case is particularly concerning as it encompasses so many elements of victimization: voyeurism (which is a sexual offence in Canada), indecent exposure, non-consensual sharing of intimate images, and workplace harassment.”
In 2021, Matthew Schwabe, a former assistant manager of Red Barn Mattick’s Farm location near Victoria, pleaded guilty to eight counts of voyeurism and nine counts of publishing intimate images without consent.
Between 2012 and 2014, Schwabe planted hidden cameras in the women’s bathroom and staff change room at the grocery store, recording at least nine victims – some of them teenagers – while they were in various stages of undress. He later uploaded the recordings to a Russian pornography website, pairing some with the victims’ names or screenshots from their personal social media profiles.
Former employees and plaintiffs in the case say the behaviour didn’t happen in isolation. A former employee identified only as ‘K.B.’ summarized the atmosphere at the store as “a sexualized environment”, with owners and male managers commenting on young women’s bodies and making sexualized remarks. K.B. also alleged that Samuel Schwabe, Matthew’s father and former co-owner of Red Barn, made lewd comments about younger girls.
Another former employee, ‘C.J.’, said a deli manager dismissed her after she reported that Matthew Schwabe attempted to converse with her while exposing his penis. According to C.J., the manager later threatened her with a “write-up” over complaints about Schwabe.
“Sexual violence exists on a spectrum – with comments and ‘jokes’ on one end and more explicit acts … on the other,” Forrester said, noting perpetrators often test the waters. “So, unfortunately, it does not surprise me to hear that other workers described the environment this way.”
Good Night Out Vancouver says employers are legally required to provide a work environment free of all forms of sexual harassment – a responsibility that includes both clear policies and ongoing education.
“At GNOV, we teach that a ‘sexualized’ environment is a risk factor in the workplace,” she said. “It can allow for even more serious behaviour to become normalized.”
She added that workplaces should regularly check areas where workers will be alone to ensure they are safe. She also highlighted the importance of ensuring policies around conduct apply to all, regardless of their relationship to owners and supervisors.
“There should also be clear reporting structures in place so that workers are able to recognize what behaviour is unacceptable and how to report as needed.”
This need for clarity becomes even more necessary when put in light of trends.
According to Statistics Canada, police-reported incidents of the non-consensual distribution of intimate images (NCDII) have risen sharply since 2015. While the true scope of the offence is likely higher due to underreporting, the national rate increased from 1 per 100,000 people in 2015 to 5 per 100,000 in 2019.
Voyeurism has also been on the rise in B.C., with police-involved incidents jumping 65 per cent between 2014 and 2024.
Advancements in technology create further concern about the prevalence of these crimes.
“Something that comes to mind is the new Meta AI glasses, which doesn’t just raise concerns about filming, but also stalking, doxxing and sexual assault in virtual reality,” Forrester said.
“Technology-facilitated gender-based violence is a newer territory for organizations like ours doing prevention work, and so sharing fact-based information about prevention to women and girls is paramount.”
That is why the theme for the UN’s 16 Days of Activism to End Gender-Based Violence campaign in 2025 was ending digital violence against women and girls, Forrester pointed out.
The province also enacted the Intimate Images Protection Act in January 2024 to help stop the distribution of non-consensual sexual image sharing.
However, Forrester said legislation alone is not enough.
“Unfortunately, it sounds like a lot of these young workers had no allies in management to help bring awareness to the multiple safety concerns,” she said.
“The unfortunate reality is that until we as a society commit to addressing gender-based violence, including sexual violence, through strong personal and professional investment in consent education, perpetrators are going to find novel ways to commit it, inside workplaces, homes and public spaces.”
Victims of sexual assault in Greater Victoria can reach out to the Victoria Sexual Assault Centre at www.vsac.ca.
With files from Bailey Seymour.
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