History and Mission

The Right to Quiet Society for Soundscape Awareness and Protection was founded in Vancouver, British Columbia in 1982 as a charitable organization with the mission of raising public awareness of the detrimental effects of noise on health; promoting awareness of noise pollution and the dangers of noise to our physical, emotional, and spiritual wellbeing; working for noise reduction through better regulation and enforcement; encouraging responsible behaviour regarding noise; advocating for manufacturing quieter products; and fostering recognition of the right to quiet as a basic human right, rather than as an amenity for the affluent.

Thanks to the efforts of the Society, the Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation designated three beaches as quiet areas. Right to Quiet was instrumental in persuading the Vancouver City Council to implement restrictions on construction work, such as no work on Sundays and holidays. Right to Quiet helped set up and served on an Urban Noise Task Force in Vancouver that established 165 recommendations related to noise control. And on the provincial level, Right to Quiet participated in planning for ecological reserves in a rural area designated to be free of anthropogenic noise, including aircraft, with the exception of emergency and rescue operations.

Over the years, Right to Quiet has donated over 600 books to libraries throughout British Columbia, including Listen to the Raindrops, The Book of Noise, Stillness, Daily Gifts of Solitude, One Square Inch of Silence, and In Pursuit of Silence. In 2018, we donated 20 copies of the In Pursuit of Silence DVD to libraries in British Columbia; the film draws inspiration from the book.

Right to Quiet officers have:

• Given interviews on radio and television, and in print media
• Met with a car sharing company regarding practices to reduce environmental noise
• Worked with Edmonton leadership to reduce sound levels from vehicles with modified mufflers
• Written blog posts, editorials, and letters to editors, and engaged with print and social media
• Met with a member of US Congress to review policy on acoustic vehicle alerts
• Met with a policy analyst at Consumers Union to discuss policy on acoustic vehicle alerts
• Presented research findings at scientific meetings related to vehicle alerts and the soundscape
• Participated in environmental events and trade shows in Vancouver, New York City, and elsewhere
• Engaged with elected leaders and other stakeholders at public meetings related to a range of noise issues
• Written to car manufacturers and trade associations about the health effects of nonessential noise