Shown left, (left to right) with BASAC, Marla Degenstien, Robin Dyck, and Amber Stewart with North Battleford Mayor David Gillan. The BASAC team also met with Town of Battleford acting mayor Kevin Russell to raise the flag at Town Hall ( shown right). (Angela Brown/battlefordsNOW staff)

By Angela Brown

Walk a Mile in her Shoes on Thursday

Sexual Violence Awareness Week proclaimed in Battlefords

May 16, 2022 | 2:27 PM

The Battlefords and Area Sexual Assault Centre flag was raised in the Battlefords Monday in honour of Sexual Violence Awareness Week.

The focus this year is to highlight the many “unseen” actions women and feminine-identifying individuals take to protect themselves from the risk of sexual violence, such as not wearing headphones while jogging in a park.

City Mayor David Gillan said he appreciates the efforts of the Battlefords and Area Sexual Assault Centre (BASAC) to help people impacted by the issue.

“It’s extremely important,” he said. “Their agency is doing great work, have been for over 40 years. We’re very happy to have them in our community, and we’re very supportive of awareness week.”

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BASAC executive director Amber Stewart said the annual week continues to help increase awareness and education.

“We know there are over 600,000 sexual assaults in Canada each year and it’s time we started acknowledging the true impact on safety, freedom and choice that comes with sexual violence,” she said. “We know it happens everywhere. We know it happens to everyone.”

Stewart said there is no age, race, gender, or socio-economic status that keeps people safe.

“The only true way we are ever going to address this is by coming together as communities, and advocating for victims of violence and ensuring there are proper supports for people of gender-based violence and sexual violence,” she said.

Walk a Mile in Her Shoes

Coming up May 19 the annual Walk a Mile in Her Shoes event is planned in North Battleford to continue to increase awareness of the issue and raise funds for BASAC programming. Registration will be from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. outside The Blend restaurant on 100 Street, with the walk to follow.

Town of Battleford acting mayor Kevin Russell says council is glad to support the cause.

“Hopefully, everybody takes part in the Walk a Mile in Her Shoes on Thursday night,” he said. “Our mayor [Ames Leslie] will be there to take part in that.”

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angela.brown@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @battlefordsNOW