Did you know May is Sexual Violence Awareness Month?

Lindsey Lubkey

Published

6 years ago

3 minute read

The Central Alberta Sexual Assault Support Centre (CASASC) continues its support to those affected by sexual violence by promoting Sexual Violence Awareness Month.

The Government of Alberta proclaimed May as Sexual Violence Awareness month on May 1, 2018. Action is being taken provincially to challenge existing attitudes, promote a culture of consent and raise awareness about sexual violence. To start the month, the province launched a new Commitment to End Sexual Violence. Developed through extensive consultation with front line providers, advocates and survivors, the commitment brings government ministries and community organizations together to deliver a coordinated, province-wide response to address sexual violence in Alberta.

“Every Albertan deserves to live free from sexual harassment and assault,” said Premier Rachel Notley in a media release on May 1. “Sexualized violence is a crime of power and control, and governments have a duty to lead, to offer hope and healing to survivors, to make workplaces and campuses safe and to tackle the inequality at the root of this violence that most impacts women and girls.”

Throughout the month, CASASC will be hosting a variety of events and activities to build on awareness and prevention of sexual harassment and assault. Most notably, on Friday May 25, CASASC will be celebrating the first official Respect Day at City Hall Park in Red Deer. This is a free event that will feature music, dancing, information booths and a by donation barbeque.

You can also find CASASC at the season opening of the Red Deer Farmer’s Market on Saturday, May 19th, where there will be an information booth and a raffle prize. This month CASASC celebrates the second anniversary of their unique 24 Hour Sexual Assault Text and Webchat Crisis Line. This service is the first of its kind in the province where those in need can text and be connected with a trained volunteer for
immediate crisis support.

And you can join the conversation for the month by using the hashtag #SVAM for Sexual Violence Awareness Month and participate in the iRespect challenge using the hashtag #iRespect on social media.

About Central Alberta Sexual Assault Support Centre

CASASC is a voluntary, non-profit organization serving the Central Alberta region under the direction of a community-based Board of Directors. CASASC educates, supports and empowers individuals, families and communities regarding all aspects of sexual abuse and sexual assault.

Central Alberta Sexual Assault Support Centre
A201, 5212-48 Street
Red Deer, AB T4N 7C3
T: 403-340-1124
F: 403-340-1163
Email: [email protected]
Service for individuals affected by sexual assault offered at no cost

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We’re Almost There! Building Campaign Announcement

Published on December 6, 2023

Central Alberta Child Advocacy Centre

First off, I want to take a moment to thank you for following along in our journey, and being part of the solution for those children who have been impacted by a form of child abuse. Whether you have volunteered, donated, or have simply followed us and shared our content online, you have contributed in some way to making the world better and brighter for our children and families. Nothing that we have accomplished here has been without the support of our community.

We have come a long way since we first opened in Downtown Red Deer. When we moved from downtown to our previous space it was a big step up. We had room for new and existing staff, and we were able to create a more comfortable space. But as the need for services has grown, and as we take on cases that require more integration with our partners, we had to shift our focus to a new space. Rather than simply moving into a larger existing space, we needed to create a place where we could work with all of our partners in one building. We needed a centre that had space for more clinical therapies, more room for forensic interviews, and that allowed us to look ahead with research and academic integration to help bring up the next generation of teachers, nurses, therapists, and more. We needed to build the Sheldon Kennedy Centre of Excellence!

Creating the Sheldon Kennedy Centre of Excellence has been no small task. From concept and design, right through to painting the walls and grouting the tiles, every step has been meticulously planned out with the children in mind. On top of all of that, we have been working with our partners on ensuring that the space meets their needs. I’m proud to say that we’ve accomplished just that. Now, for example, if a child is having a forensic interview, and their parent or guardian needs support as well, they can get what they need all in one building.

The children we see have already been through unimaginable things, often at the hands of people they’re meant to trust. Our job is not only to take a statement, and connect families to other resources, but also to make our young clients feel as comfortable as possible. No child wants to discuss their trauma if they’re scared, uncomfortable, nervous, or intimidated. The space we bring them into needs to help them feel at ease, and we believe that is exactly what we have accomplished at the Sheldon Kennedy Centre of Excellence.

This has been our journey and our mission. Back in February, we announced our building campaign with a goal of raising $12 Million dollars. I am proud to tell you today that we are only $1.2 Million away from our $12 Million dollar fundraising goal! We have just 10% left to go in this campaign. Every dollar on top of that goal that we raise will help us pay for this building even faster, which means we can focus more of resources towards our services and creating new awareness and educational resources.

So this is what I’m asking you today; Please help us get over the finish line. Any donation today, even $10, will go a long way to helping those impacted by a form of child abuse. There are other ways to support us as well, including sharing this with your friends and family, or following us on social media and engaging with us there. It has taken a community to get us here, and it will take a community to take this to the end.

Together we can build the future so that every child can have a bright one!

Please Donate Today

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Community

Conservative MP Leslyn Lewis condemns MAiD in Parliament as targeting nation’s most vulnerable

Published on December 3, 2023

Todayville

From LifeSiteNews

By Clare Marie Merkowsky

‘I call upon with government to reverse its course and instead provide help and hope for Canadians suffering with mental health conditions’

Conservative MP Leslyn Lewis condemned the Trudeau government’s treatment of Canada’s most vulnerable, revealing that 36 Canadians are euthanized every day. 

On November 28, Dr. Leslyn Lewis, Conservative Member of Parliament (MP) for Haldimand-Norfolk, Ontario, addressed Parliament on the dangers of Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD), the euphemistic name for Canada’s euthanasia regime.

“The poor, homeless, the abused, veterans, seniors, youth, adults suffering with disabilities, those suffering with depressions, and mental health conditions,” Lewis said. “These are among the most vulnerable in our society that are falling through the cracks of Canada’s Medical Assistance in Dying regime.”

The most vulnerable are falling through the cracks of Canada's Medical Assistance in Dying regime.

Every day 36 Canadians die by MAiD, the HIGHEST NUMBER in the world. Canadians suffering with mental illness need help and hope, not euthanasia. This gov't must reverse course. pic.twitter.com/tT8x5PBpxq

— Dr. Leslyn Lewis (@LeslynLewis) November 28, 2023

“They are the ones who will be at risk when the MAiD laws in Canada are expanded in March 2024,” the pro-life MP added. “Last year, death by euthanasia increased by 30 percent from the year before. Every day in Canada, 36 people use MAiD to end their lives, which is the highest in the world.”

“I call upon with government to reverse its course and instead provide help and hope for Canadians suffering with mental health conditions,” Lewis appealed.

On March 9, 2024, MAiD is set to expand to include those suffering solely from mental illness. This is a result of the 2021 passage of Bill C-7, which also allowed the chronically ill – not just the terminally ill – to qualify for so-called doctor-assisted death.

The mental illness expansion was originally set to take effect in March of this year. However, after massive pushback from pro-life groups, conservative politicians and others, the Liberals under Trudeau delayed the introduction of the full effect of Bill C-7 until 2024 via Bill C-39.

The expansion comes despite warnings from top Canadian psychiatrists that the country is “not ready” for the coming expansion of euthanasia to those who are mentally ill, saying expanding the procedure is not something “society should be doing” as it could lead to deaths under a “false pretense.”

“Unfortunately, there is no reprieve in sight as think Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD) becomes a national horror and the ‘professionals’ sharpen up their needles,” Ireland told LifeSiteNews.

“We have reached the point where we must all protect each other from MAiD,” she noted.

Euthanasia deaths have gone through the roof in Canada since it became legal in 2016.

According to Health Canada, in 2022, 13,241 Canadians died by MAiD lethal injection, which is 4.1 percent of all deaths in the country for that year, and a 31.2 percent increase from 2021.

The number of Canadians killed by lethal injection since 2016 now stands at 44,958.