Pembroke’s Handshake Parking Spaces: Making Online Trades Safer
If you’ve spotted a handshake painted on a parking space in Pembroke, Ontario, it’s more than decoration. That small symbol marks a spot designed to protect residents when meeting strangers for in-person online transactions—turning what can feel risky into a safer, community-minded experience.
The handshake spaces are part of Project Safe Trade, an initiative from the Upper Ottawa Valley OPP. Located outside the Pembroke OPP station on International Drive, these spots provide a well-lit, easily accessible, and visible meeting area for buyers and sellers. Residents can use them any time—day or night—without registration or appointments, offering a neutral location that reduces the potential dangers of meeting in private or secluded spots.
Police emphasize that while officers don’t actively supervise transactions, their proximity ensures a rapid response if anything goes wrong. The program is particularly relevant as online marketplace use rises, especially during the holiday season, when secondhand sales and peer-to-peer exchanges spike. By encouraging transactions at designated public locations, Project Safe Trade minimizes the risks of misrepresented items, payment disputes, or unsafe encounters.
Beyond these official spaces, residents are also advised to follow basic safety precautions: meet in daylight, bring a friend or family member, and retain records of online communications until the transaction is complete. Together with the handshake-marked spots, these habits promote responsible and secure online trading.
Conclusion
A small handshake symbol has a big impact. Representing trust, awareness, and community care, Pembroke’s designated parking spaces help residents carry out online transactions with greater confidence.
By combining thoughtful infrastructure with common-sense safety practices, Project Safe Trade transforms everyday exchanges into safer, more reliable experiences for everyone.