Stop by the community corner make a donation and enter our raffles — you could be walking away with your very own large Ressie unicorn, Rebels merch or other great stuff.
Puck drops at 7 p.m.
Tickets can be bought online at Tickets Alberta.
The February 2024 edition of the CASASC Let’s Connect Newsletter is out now.
This issue features: resources for teachers and business for Pink Shirt Day, tips for staying active in the winter months, scholarship information and more!
Read Online: casasc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Lets-Connect-CASASC-Feb-2024.pdf
The Central Alberta Sexual Assault Support Centre (CASASC) is dedicated to supporting those affected by sexual violence each and every day of the year.
In Alberta, November is Family Violence Prevention Month (FVPM). The goal of FVPM is to raise awareness around family violence and to educate communities on how to prevent it.
What is Family Violence:
Family violence is when someone uses abusive behaviour to control and/or harm a member of their family, or someone with whom they have an intimate relationship.
Family violence includes many different forms of physical, sexual and emotional abuse, as well as neglect carried out by family members or intimate partners. It may include a single act of violence, or a number of acts that form a pattern of abuse. Family violence can have serious and sometimes fatal consequences for victims and for those who see or hear the violence.
Family violence can happen to people of all ages, abilities, cultural and spiritual backgrounds, gender identities and sexual orientations. Victims can be in romantic relationships, divorced, children (birth, step, adopted or foster), grandparents, or individuals with guardians or caregivers.
Impacts:
Rates of family violence increase during and following natural disasters, public health crises and economic downturns. It is important to know where you can turn if you are experiencing family violence.
With the added stress and time together caused by COVID-19, families with unhealthy relationships are more likely to experience child sexual violence.
Isolation is a risk factor for family violence. Many people who experience family violence use their support of friends and family to manage their situation.
Presentations:
For the months of November & December CASASC is offering several virtual presentations on a variety of topics relating to sexual violence. All presentations are facilitated on Zoom and vary in length 30 mins to 60 mins.
Introduction to Sexual Violence (60min)
Mon, Nov 27, 9:00-10:00 am
Fri, Dec, 10:00-11:00 am
Supporting Disclosures (45 min)
Fri, Nov 17, 10:00-10:45 am
Thurs, Dec 7, 11:00-11:45 am
Ask an Expert – Parenting & Sexualized Behaviour Conversations with our Clinical Expert (6o min)
Thurs, Nov 23, 4:00-5:00 pm
Wed, Dec 20, 4:00-5:00 pm
Events:
-Education Social Media Takeover – Friday, November 24
On this day our education team will be hosting a takeover of CASASC’s social accounts. They will be answering questions throughout the day and will feature resources and information about programs and several topics. Make sure to tune in.
-Purple Day – Day of Action – Friday, November 24
Wear purple on this day to bring awareness to family violence. We will provide suggestions on how you can take action in your community. Show us how you support by sporting your best purple items. This is a day marked by the Central Alberta community to show support for those affected by family violence.
Take action – Action items for Family Violence Prevention Month
Kids/Teens – Make a card, note, or message for someone who you are grateful for (bus driver, librarian, teacher, counsellor, family member) and give it to them with a big smile and a thank you. Tell them how much you care about them or thank them for something nice they have done.
Kids/Teens – Do something nice for a family member, sibling, cousin.
Family – Do an activity together, something you’ve never done before or a game you all enjoy.
Family – Do an activity for each letter of the word P-U-R-P-L-E (ex. For the first P – go to the play ground, U – go for a walk to find the underside of a bridge, R – eat some red candy….)
Adults – Do something fun/spontaneous with a friend – go for coffee, show them you care and are there to support them.
Reach out to a friend you haven’t talked to in a while. Send that text.
General – Create a safety plan. Just like how we should have a safety plan in place for a natural disaster (even though we may never need it), we should have a safety plan in place for if we ever are in a place of harm/discomfort.
The Central Alberta Sexual Assault Support Centre (CASASC) is dedicated to supporting those affected by sexual violence each and every day of the year.
In Alberta, May is Sexual Violence Awareness Month (SVAM). The goal of SVAM is to raise public awareness about sexual violence and to educate communities on how to prevent it.
The theme of SVAM this year is RISE. We know that one month alone isn’t enough to solve the widespread issue of sexual violence; however, the attention we generate during the month is an opportunity to energize and expand prevention efforts throughout the year.
About RISE
SVAM is about more than awareness – the ultimate goal is prevention. This year’s theme centres around rising up – rising up to support, empower, show respect and inspire one another during this uncertain time.
The theme Rise is inspired by Maya Angelou’s poem Still I Rise. She writes: “Just like the moons and like suns, With the certainty of tides, Just like hopes springing high, Still I’ll rise.”
Throughout the pandemic, rates of sexual violence continued to increase. Sexual violence is often a taboo topic and the issue has been pushed into the back, dark crevasse of society.
Sexual violence needs to be addressed and a message of hope needs to be relayed to survivors. This is why we rise – to empower, to support, to inspire and to show respect.
Key Messages: Sexual Violence and Prevention
View the AASAS 2019/2020 summary of the Prevalence of Sexual Assault and Childhood Sexual Abuse in Alberta HERE
Find additional social media messages and images HERE. For more information and/or additional access to the messages and images email education@casasc.ca
How You Can Stay Involved All Month Long
Each week in May we’re featuring different ways you can get involved by promoting awareness and rising up. Want to get involved? We’ve got you covered. We have an array of events and ways for you to participate in SVAM.
Download the SVAM calendar here complete with session links.
Visit our learning series document for full information on May and June virtual learning series dates and access.
Calendar of Events:
Week 1:
May 1
May 5
Week 2:
May 12
Week 3: Victims and Survivors of Crime Week
May 17
May 18
May 19
Week 4:
May 26 – DAY OF ACTION
Week 5:
May 29
May 30
Available all month long:
-SVAM 2023 Community Resource Package
A free document of SVAM activities and information for schools and community. Use all month long to show your contribution to communities without sexual violence. Prevention and awareness are key. Respect, kindness, and healthy relationships are at the foundation of change. Plan to celebrate your activities and share your successes on MAY 26.
Join Ressie the Respect unicorn and share with us your ways you show respect and kindness to others. Being kind and respectful to animals, people and places is an important part in having safe and healthy communities. How do you help to make our communities and school safer?
–I Respect Statement SVAM 2023
Make your own Respect statement. Print out your own sign, tell us how/what you respect. Send in your statement signs to education@casasc.ca or tag us in our social media. Use the #iRespect and #SVAM hashtags.
-iRespect – MADE TO RESPECT t-shirts
Individuals are encouraged to wear the classic CASASC ‘iRespect’ t-shirts on Friday, May 26. T-shirts are available at the main office for a nominal donation. Sizes are limited. Post a selfie of yourself wearing the t-shirt and tag CASASC in social media. Use the #iRespect and #SVAM hashtags.
Find these month-long offerings on the iRespect tab of the CASASC website https://casasc.ca/irespect/
Checking your social media feeds anyway? Follow CASASC on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and YouTube share our posts, tag CASASC and encourage others to do the same.
Maya Angelou’s Poem Still I Rise: https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/46446/still-i-rise
Facebook: @CASASCRD
Twitter: @CASASC2
Instagram: @CASASC3
YouTube: Let’s Connect – CASASC
Hashtags: #iRespect, #SVAM, #cultureofrespect #rise
Mark your calendar. On the week of February 13 -16, bring your bottles and cans to the CASASC main office to donate directly to our organization.
We have a pick up scheduled with Skip the Depot on Feb 17, so it’s as easy as saving your cans and bottles over the few weeks and dropping them off to us.
We have limited storage space so please bring your bottles to us within the week (Feb 13-16). We will have late drop off availability on Feb 16 until 8 p.m. to make it make more accessible for those who can’t get to us during our regular hours.
How to donate:
1)Drop off your bottle and cans to the CASASC main office (A201, 5212 48 Street) during our business hours 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on February 13, 14 and 15th
2)Drop off your bottles and cans to the CASASC main office after hours on Feb 16th. We will have late drop off hours running from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on this day only.
3)Schedule your own Skip the Depot pick up at your home or business. Skip the Depot picks up your bottles and cans, saving you a trip to the depot and making it easy to donate the funds to CASASC. Sign up here: https://app.skipthedepot.com/casasc
If you do want to donate your bottles to us, but don’t have a way to bring the bottles to us, contact us to arrange a pick up. We can accommodate small pick ups by request only. Email Lara at lal-hmidat@casasc.ca to request a pickup or for more information.
It’s time to start rounding up all of your holiday recyclables.
The CASASC team attended the 2022 Front Line Service Providers’ Awards on Nov. 28 at the Red Deer Resort and Casino.
The 18th annual awards ceremony, hosted by the Domestic and Relationship Violence Committee (DRVIC), is a time for front line service providers to come together to recognize each other and the meaningful work being done within these communities.
CASASC Crisis Support and SART Manager Erin Willmer was nominated for a Front Line Service Providers’ Award for working collaboratively with her colleagues and community partners as a compassionate leader, support and community connector.
“Erin is compassionate and caring and exemplifies respect, knowledge and leadership. She advocates for clients and those impacted by sexual violence and places their needs at the highest priority. Erin wears multiple ‘hats’ within her roles as a manager, front line responder, volunteer coordinator, team lead etc. and is excellent at switching between these roles in appropriate and knowledgeable ways.”
“Empowering victims on their next steps, Erin leads with compassion, care and respect.”
CASASC would like to congratulate all of the nominees and recipients at this year’s award ceremony.
Tuesday, November 29th is Giving Tuesday, a global movement for giving and volunteering which takes place each year after Black Friday.
This year CASASC is encouraging support of the A Season of Giving donation campaign.
Your donations help CASASC offer free services and support to thousands of Central Albertans affected by sexual violence each year. Learn more about A Season of Giving campaign here
Monetary donations are accepted at the main office (cash, credit or cheque). Online donations to this campaign are accepted via our CanadaHelps page
A powerful window exhibit has been set up in downtown Red Deer to address victim blaming. In recognition of Family Violence Prevention Month, the Central Alberta Sexual Assault Support Centre (CASASC) has set up What I Was Wearing When It Happened, a reflection exhibit along Ross Street.
The purpose of the exhibit is to bring awareness to the issue of victim blaming and the stigma surrounding individual’s clothing as the reason they were sexually assaulted.
The window exhibit features powerful statements paired with various types of clothing victims were wearing at the time they were assaulted. This is meant to be a real-life representation, a visual way to bring awareness around the still existing stigma.
This is the third year for the reflection exhibit. CASASC has hosted the exhibit previously on International Women’s Day. In 2018, the exhibit was hosted at Parkland Mall featuring over 300 pairs of shoes, each representing an Alberta woman who was missing or murdered. The shoe exhibit encouraged people to reflect on the lives of those women.
In 2019, CASASC partnered with the Students’ Association of Red Deer Polytechnic (S.A.) and two third-year BScN students of RDP for a similar exhibit featuring live mannequins. The exhibit was thought-provoking and interactive.
This year the exhibit is on display as a partnership between CASASC, the John Howard Society of Red Deer and the Central Alberta Community Legal Clinic.
What I Was Wearing When It Happened will be on display in the front windows facing Ross Street at 4916 50 Street until November 30. Viewers can easily peruse the window display from the sidewalk.
The Central Alberta Sexual Assault Support Centre (CASASC) is dedicated to supporting those affected by sexual violence each and every day of the year.
In Alberta, November is Family Violence Prevention Month (FVPM). The goal of FVPM is to raise awareness around family violence and to educate communities on how to prevent it.
What is Family Violence:
Family violence is when someone uses abusive behaviour to control and/or harm a member of their family, or someone with whom they have an intimate relationship.
Family violence includes many different forms of physical, sexual and emotional abuse, as well as neglect carried out by family members or intimate partners. It may include a single act of violence, or a number of acts that form a pattern of abuse. Family violence can have serious and sometimes fatal consequences for victims and for those who see or hear the violence.
Family violence can happen to people of all ages, abilities, cultural and spiritual backgrounds, gender identities and sexual orientations. Victims can be in romantic relationships, divorced, children (birth, step, adopted or foster), grandparents, or individuals with guardians or caregivers.
Impacts:
Rates of family violence increase during and following natural disasters, public health crises and economic downturns. It is important to know where you can turn if you are experiencing family violence.
With the added stress and time together caused by COVID-19, families with unhealthy relationships are more likely to experience child sexual violence.
Isolation is a risk factor for family violence. Many people who experience family violence use their support of friends and family to manage their situation.
How You Can Stay Involved All Month Long:
Throughout November we’re featuring different ways you can get involved by promoting awareness. Want to get involved? We’ve got you covered. We’ve created custom Purple Day graphics for you to share, tweet and tag CASASC throughout the month, along with many other resources and events:
-Purple ribbons – Small silk purple ribbons will be available at both CASASC locations throughout the month. Wear the purple ribbon in unity to show survivors of family violence that they are not alone.
-Download the Purple Day poster here
-Download the Purple Day social image here
Presentations:
For the month of November CASASC is offering several virtual presentations on a variety of topics relating to sexual violence. All presentations are facilitated on Zoom and vary in length 30 mins to 60 mins.
Introduction to Sexual Violence (November 8)
Services & Programs at CASASC (November 10)
Consent 101 (November 18 and November 29)
Supporting Disclosures (November 21)
What Happens on a 24/7 Sexual Violence Helpline? (November 28)
Events:
-Education Social Media Takeover – Friday, November 18th
On this day our education team will be hosting a takeover of CASASC’s social accounts. They will be answering questions throughout the day and will feature resources and information about programs and several topics. Make sure to tune in.
-Purple Day – Day of Action – Friday, November 25
Wear purple on this day to bring awareness to family violence. We will provide suggestions on how you can take action in your community. Show us your purple by sporting your purple #iRespect t-shirt, the purple ribbon or other purple items. This is day marked by the Central Alberta community to show support for those affected by family violence.
Take action – Action items for Family Violence Prevention Month
Kids/Teens – Make a card, note, or message for someone who you are grateful for (bus driver, librarian, teacher, counsellor, family member) and give it to them with a big smile and a thank you. Tell them how much you care about them or thank them for something nice they have done.
Kids/Teens – Do something nice for a family member, sibling, cousin.
Family – Do an activity together, something you’ve never done before or a game you all enjoy.
Family – Do an activity for each letter of the word P-U-R-P-L-E (ex. For the first P – go to the play ground, U – go for a walk to find the underside of a bridge, R – eat some red candy….)
Adults – Do something fun/spontaneous with a friend – go for coffee, show them you care and are there to support them.
Reach out to a friend you haven’t talked to in a while. Send that text.
General – Create a safety plan. Just like how we should have a safety plan in place for a natural disaster (even though we may never need it), we should have a safety plan in place for if we ever are in a place of harm/discomfort.
What happens on a 24/7 Sexual Violence Helpline? (60 min)
Join us for an informal session about operating and volunteering on a 24/7 sexual violence helpline.
Supported by volunteers with CASASC and available by phone, text and webchat to anyone in Alberta, the help line provides support to anyone impacted by sexual violence (direct or indirect) and is a resourcing and support service.
Use this opportunity to learn about the help line and how you can utilize it in your community/workplace. Hear what it takes to volunteer on a help line. Help us share this free resource out to our community. We are here for you.
Free, register here
Upcoming dates:
Tuesday, November 28 – 6:00 – 7:00 pm MST
Tuesday, December 13 – 6:00 – 7:00 pm MST
