Everyone
Honoring Chase de Ballinhard and Our Shared Commitment to Change—Public Safety and Solicitor General BC Coroners Services call for Inquest
Today’s announcement from the Solicitor General regarding an inquest into the tragic death of Chase de Ballinhard is an important step toward transparency and learning. We want to express our sincere gratitude to the Solicitor General’s office for taking this action and for recognizing the need for evaluation.
Our hearts remain with Chase’s family, who have walked through unimaginable grief with extraordinary courage to advocate for a future where others are understood and protected. We hold space for their loss and honour their strength in the midst of profound pain. We are deeply thankful for their bravery in advocacy and to CTV News Anchor Regan Hasegawa for her leadership and partnership in reporting this story with care.
Our goal is multi-pronged:
- To support first responders and community members in ways that prioritize safety and understanding.
- To empower leaders with tools for clarity, supporting confidence in complex situations.
- To strengthen de-escalation strategies that reduce harm and foster trust.
- To connect interaction to hopeful outcomes wherever possible.
This tragedy reminds us that there is still much work ahead, and ensuring a wraparound approach to care across Ministries is a call to action that can no longer wait. Creating education that empowers professionals to lead with clarity and compassion, while supporting safety, is essential. Trauma-informed practices, intersectionality, and neuroaffirming language are not optional; they shape how we see, interpret and respond to people. These principles are central to the AutismBC training, developed in partnership with the Solicitor General’s office and supported by Autism Community Training.
This work is about more than policy, which needs to be tackled; it is about human dignity. We remain committed to walking this path with courage and collaboration, guided by the voices of our community.
Suzanne Perreault
Executive Director
Read the announcement here.
