You've noticed the same unfamiliar truck parked down the road from your house three times this week. Someone you barely know keeps showing up at the store right when you do. They've started sending you messages on Facebook, commenting on photos you posted months ago. Something feels off, but you tell yourself: “Maybe it's a coincidence. Maybe I'm reading too much into it.”
Second-guessing and self-doubt are the most common reasons people don't seek help when they're being stalked. It doesn't feel "serious enough." You don't want to cause a fuss.
But stalking is a crime under Canadian law, and your instincts deserve to be taken seriously.
What Is Stalking, Really?
The Legal Definition
Under the Criminal Code of Canada, stalking is classified as criminal harassment (Section 264). It occurs when a person engages in repeated, unwanted conduct that causes another person to fear for their safety or the safety of someone they know. The behaviour, either online or in person, is repeated, unwanted, and causes fear.
You do not need to be physically harmed for it to be criminal harassment. The threat alone is enough.
The SLII Framework
How Stalking Behaviours Are Categorized
Researchers and law enforcement often organize stalking behaviours into four categories:
Surveillance
Monitoring your movements, watching your home or vehicle, following you, tracking your social media, or using others to gather information about you.
Life Invasion
Showing up uninvited at your home, workplace, or regular haunts. Sending unwanted gifts, messages, or letters. Inserting themselves into your daily life without your consent.
Intimidation
Behaviour that makes you feel afraid. This includes direct or implied threats, damage to your property, or actions meant to signal that they are watching.
Interference through Sabotage or Attack
Actively disrupting your life. This could mean tampering with your property, spreading false information about you, contacting your employer or family, or, in the most serious cases, physical assault.
Stalking rarely stays in one category. Over time, behaviours often escalate.
In-Person vs. Online Stalking
In-person stalking can include: following you or driving past your property repeatedly, showing up uninvited at locations you frequent, sending unwanted gifts or letters, monitoring your schedule, and damaging or tampering with your property.
Cyberstalking includes: tracking your social media activity across platforms, monitoring your location through apps or shared devices, sending a high volume of unwanted messages, using mutual contacts to gather information about you, and impersonating you or creating false content about you online.
Both forms are serious and criminal. Increasingly, stalkers use a combination of the two.
Warning Signs to Watch For
The FOUR Pattern
Before stalking escalates, there are often early signals. A helpful way to recognize them is through the FOUR framework. These behaviours are Fixated, Obsessed, Unwanted, and Repeated. Together, as a pattern, they are a warning sign that should not be ignored.
In-Person Warning Signs
- Repeated, "coincidental" run-ins
- Unwanted gifts, notes, or letters left at your home, vehicle, or workplace
- They seem to know your schedule without you having told them
- Being followed while driving, running errands, or going to work
- Persistent and unwanted contact after you've made clear you're not interested in communication
- Damage to property that feels targeted
Online Warning Signs
- Someone following you across all your social media platforms, even after you've blocked them, using new or alternate accounts to continue
- Comments or reactions on old posts, suggesting someone is going through your history
- People in your network being contacted on someone else's behalf to ask about you or pass along messages
- Receiving threatening or intimidating messages through email or direct message
- Malicious websites, blogs, or social media posts that target you specifically
- Photos of you being altered and shared without your consent
- Discovering that someone has access to your location data, passwords, or private messages
Prevention — Protecting Yourself
You do not need to live in fear or change your lifestyle to deal with a potential stalker. There are practical steps you can take to keep yourself safe and prevent further harassment.
In Person
If your schedule is predictable with you going down the same streets, same time, same stops, mix it up when possible.
Secure your property. Motion-activated lights, cameras, and locked gates aren't just for theft prevention. Document any unfamiliar vehicles or people on or near your property, including dates and times.
You don't have to handle it alone. Letting a trusted person know what's happening means there's someone who can notice if things escalate and who can support you in taking action.
Online
Review your privacy settings on all social platforms. Limit who can see your posts, your tagged locations, and your friend or follower lists.
Turn off location sharing on photos before posting. Many smartphones embed GPS data in images by default.
Check who has access to your devices and accounts. If you share a phone plan, a family account, or a device with someone you're concerned about, they could be monitoring your activity.
If You're Being Stalked: Steps to Take
Document Everything
Start a record as soon as you recognize something is wrong. Write down:
- Dates, times, and locations of every incident
- What was said or done
- Any witnesses who were present
- Screenshots of messages, posts, or online activity
- Photos of any property damage or unwanted items left for you
- Keep this record somewhere secure, ideally not on a shared device or account.
Who to Tell
Start with someone you trust: a family member, close friend, or neighbour. Having someone else know about the situation means you're not carrying it alone, and they can vouch for you if needed.
Notify your employer if the behaviour is happening at or near your workplace, or if the person has messaged you through your work email or called your place of work. Your employer may be able to help restrict access or increase awareness among your coworkers.
Contact the RCMP. Bring your documentation. You don't need to have "enough" evidence to make a report; that's for police to assess. Your job is to report what's happening.
What to Expect When You Report to the RCMP
An officer will take your statement and review your evidence. Be honest about how fearful you are. They may conduct a threat assessment, interview the person of concern, or recommend further steps depending on the severity. In some cases, charges may be laid, or the police may issue a warning or recommend a peace bond.
Safety Planning
A safety plan might include:
- Identifying which neighbours are closest and can be called on quickly
- Keeping your vehicle fuelled and ready
- Having a "go bag" with important documents, medication, and essentials if you need to leave quickly
- Identifying a safe location, like a family member's home, a shelter, or a community hub, where you can go if needed
- Sharing your safety plan with at least one trusted person
Restraining Orders and Peace Bonds
A peace bond is a court order that can be granted even when no charges have been laid. It requires the person of concern to keep the peace and can include conditions like no-contact orders or staying away from your property. Breaching a peace bond is a criminal offence.
A restraining order is typically issued through civil or family court and is most common in situations involving former partners or family members.
A Victim Services worker or legal aid lawyer can help you understand which option fits your situation and walk you through the application process.
Resources & Support
You don't have to figure this out alone. These organizations are there to help.
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RCMP Non-Emergency Line: Contact your local detachment to report concerns or get advice. Find your nearest detachment at rcmp-grc.gc.ca
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Alberta Council of Women's Shelters 24/7 provincial helpline: 1-866-331-3933 | acws.ca
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Victim Services: Free, confidential support including safety planning, court processes, and referrals. Find your local unit at alberta.ca/victim-services
Stalking is not a misunderstanding or flattery, and it's not something you should have to get through on your own. It is a crime, and if left ignored, it can escalate.
You do not have to wait until something worse happens to ask for help. Speak with a victim services worker, call a support line, or use an anonymous chat tool to talk through what you're experiencing. If you are concerned about your safety, you can contact the RCMP or a lawyer about getting a restraining order or peace bond.
Remaining aware of your surroundings and knowing what actions to take can keep you safer.
For emergencies, always call 911. For non-emergency concerns, contact your local RCMP detachment.
March 24, 2026