In Pembroke, that handshake icon outside the Ontario Provincial Police detachment turns an ordinary parking lot into a quiet contract. It says: if you’re meeting a stranger from a marketplace app, you don’t have to walk into the unknown alone. Floodlights, cameras, and the constant presence of nearby officers change the balance of power long before money or goods ever change hands.

Project Safe Trade doesn’t pretend to erase risk. Deals can still sour, tempers can still flare, and scammers can still try their luck. But the space itself sends a message—to honest buyers, cautious sellers, and anyone thinking of crossing the line. Here, you’re visible. Here, you’re expected. Here, if something turns from awkward to dangerous, help is only a few steps away. In a world of invisible threats, a painted handshake becomes a small, stubborn act of communi