iRespect Myself, iNourish My Body – Recipe 3

/in /by

The third recipe in our weekly self-care, iRespect Myself, iNourish My Body recipe series is an easy sheet pan dinner idea that only takes fifteen minutes of prep time and contains salmon, one of the best sources of Omega 3 fatty acids. These fatty acids contain many benefits such as improved brain, skin, hair and overall health in general.

So, for this week’s self-care recipe, spend less time in the kitchen and more time outside getting some fresh air, going for a walk, or any other self-care ritual you enjoy. Cooking shouldn’t have to be difficult or time consuming to be healthy.

 

This post is part of CASASC’s Respect Month – a month-long awareness campaign that acknowledges Sexual Violence Awareness Month through the concept of respect.

Now Hiring Office Assistant Summer Student

/in /by

The Central Alberta Sexual Assault Support Centre (CASASC) is seeking an energetic student to fill the position of Office Assistant – Summer Student.

This is a great opportunity for a student who wishes to develop skills, gain experience and be ready for fulltime work once they complete their education.

 

The job details are as follows:

Position: Office Assistant – Summer Student

No. of Positions: 1

Position Type: Full time term – 9 weeks

Hours per week: 37.5 hours

Hourly rate: $16 per hour

Anticipated Start Date: June 8th, 2021

Location: CASASC, Main Office A201, 5212 48 St. , Red Deer, AB

 

About Us:

The 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.

We specialize in healing sexual trauma so you can talk freely about the hard stuff with no judgement. We provide a range of support services for individuals who are affected by sexual violence including counselling, play therapy, police and court support, crisis support and education.

 

Job Summary:

Reporting to the Communications and Administrative Coordinator, the Office Assistant provides administrative support to the organization requiring considerable discretion and confidentiality, prompt communication, and resourcefulness.

 

Eligibility:

To be eligible for the summer student position, the student must:

  • Be between 15 and 30 years of age at the start of the employment.
  • Have been registered as full-time student in the previous academic year and intend to return to school on a full-time basis in the next academic year.
  • Be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or person to whom refugee protection has been conferred under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act for the duration of the employment.
  • Have a valid Social Insurance Number at the start of employment and be legally entitled to work in Canada in accordance with relevant provincial or territorial legislation and regulations

Other Requirements:

  • Must have a professional acumen and be willing to learn.
  • Ability to multi-task and prioritize the tasks to meet the deadlines.
  • Ability to work independently.
  • Good verbal and written communication skills.
  • Ability to develop and maintain professional rapport with other internal and external members of the organization.
  • Proficiency with MS Office.

Responsibilities:

  • Manage the front desk, answer telephone and electronic enquiries and relay telephone calls and messages.
  • Greet visitors, and direct them to employer appropriate person.
  • Set up and maintain manual and computerized information filing system.
  • Open and distribute incoming regular and electronic mail and other material and co-ordinate the flow of information internally and with other departments and organizations.
  • Schedule and confirm appointments and meetings of employer.
  • Maintain office inventory and order the supplies when needed through approved vendors.
  • Assist the Communications and Administrative Coordinator with any other administrative tasks as and when required.

How to Apply:

CASASC is an equal opportunity employer, and we value the importance of diversity, dignity, and worth of every individual in the workplace.

Please email your resume and cover letter to hr@casasc.ca by May 31, 2021. Mention the position in the subject line.

We thank all applicants for their interest, however, only short-listed candidates will be contacted for interview.

iRespect Myself, iNourish My Body – Recipe 2

/in , /by

 

The second recipe in our weekly self-care, iRespect Myself, iNourish My Body recipe series is brought to you by Ressie, CASASC’s resident iRespect unicorn. Ressie shares with us a great kids recipe for delicious quesadillas (what kid doesn’t love quesadillas?!).

Taking time to slow down and cook with our loved ones is another way to practice self-care, but also, a great way to spend time with one another and promote feelings of love and togetherness.

So, what are you waiting for? Grab your adult helper and let’s get cooking.

 

This post is part of CASASC’s Respect Month – a month-long awareness campaign that acknowledges Sexual Violence Awareness Month through the concept of respect.

iRespect Myself, iNourish My Body – Recipe 1

/in , , /by

The first recipe in our weekly self-care: iRespect Myself, iNourish My Body recipe series is a super easy, “pack now, eat later” Greek chicken bowl that is perfect for those busy weekday lunch ideas.

A great balance of protein, carbs, and healthy fats; this Greek Chicken Bowl has everything you need to give your body back everything it requires to help you power through to the end of your workday.

Let’s all take a little bit of time this month to slow down, practice self-love and gratitude, and give back to our bodies.

 

This post is part of CASASC’s Respect Month – a month-long awareness campaign that acknowledges Sexual Violence Awareness Month through the concept of respect.

iRespect Yoga – May 10

/in /by

Join Bailey Martineau (trauma-informed certified kids yoga teacher) and Sarah Maetche (registered yoga teacher – RYT-200) for iRespect Yoga. In this first session we will reflect inward through breath work, meditation and moving our bodies. A focus will be place on the principle of ahimsa.

This lunchtime half-hour session is designed for EVERYBODY – all abilities, ages and bodies. No mat required. Please come as you are. Join us from your couch or your office chair.

 

Date: Monday, May 10

Time: 12 p.m. (noon)

Place: CASASC Instagram (@CASASC3) via live

 

This session is brought to you by the Central Alberta Sexual Assault Support Centre. CASASC is committed to ending the culture of sexual violence and helping to build safer communities for all Central Albertans through promoting awareness and healing, education, empowerment and renewal. CASASC specializes in healing sexual trauma so you can talk freely about the hard stuff with no judgement.

This session is offered free-of-charge, but donations to CASASC are gratefully accepted. Donate online via Canadahelps: https://www.canadahelps.org/en/dn/5162

Join us for the second iRespect Yoga session on May 31 at 7 p.m. Registration is not required. Attend both sessions via Instagram Live (@CASASC3)

 

This event is part of CASASC’s Respect Month – a month-long awareness campaign that acknowledges Sexual Violence Awareness Month through the concept of respect.

 

iRespect Learning Series – CASASC Services + Intro to Sexual Violence

/in , /by

Curious about what services CASASC offers? Want to enhance your sexual violence education?

The CASASC education team will be hosting two virtual presentations via Zoom, on May 13 at 10:30 a.m. and May 19 at 1 p.m. Each session is 90 minutes long and is offered free-of-charge.

The Services + Intro to Sexual Violence presentation is a public awareness and education presentation that introduces and highlights definitions and concepts related to sexual violence. It provides an overview as well as disclosure support and of course, a birds-eye view of all services and programs available at CASASC.

During the presentations we will discuss:

  • Sexual violence terms and definitions
  • Myths and facts about sexual violence
  • Dispelling victim blaming
  • Supporting disclosures
  • CASASC service overview

To register to the May 13 session, visit the Eventbrite page here

To register to the May 19 session, visits the Eventbrite page here

This event is part of CASASC’s Respect Month – a month-long awareness campaign that acknowledges Sexual Violence Awareness Month through the concept of respect.

Red Dress Day

/in /by

Have you ever driven through a neighbourhood park or a wooded area and noticed red dresses mysteriously hanging in the trees? Or perhaps you’ve driven by a local shop or office window, and noticed a red dress hung about in the window and asked yourself, “What is the significance of these? What does it mean?”

In 2010, Metis artist Jaime Black created a public art installation in which she hung empty red dresses in an effort to promote awareness, and commemorate missing and murdered indigenous women, girls and two-spirit individuals. Appearing in exhibitions such as the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian (2019), and the Canadian Museum of Human Rights (2014); Jaime has said that through her art installation she hopes to “draw attention to the gendered and racialized nature of violent crimes against Aboriginal women.”[1].

For Black, each dress is meant to symbolize the life of a missing or murdered Indigenous woman or girl, and the stark and stunning visual representation of the empty, red dress is meant to evoke a visceral reaction in its observers and according to the artist, “to evoke a presence through the marking of absence”[2].

The ongoing support of Jaime’s project prompted the inception of Red Dress Day, which continues annually. On this day, individuals choose to wear red or to display a red dress to commemorate the lives and memory of the missing and murdered indigenous women, girls, and two spirited individuals.

#reddressday #mmiwg #nomorestolensisters

[1] https://www.jaimeblackartist.com/exhibitions/

[2] https://www.jaimeblackartist.com/exhibitions/

Book of poetry speaks to healing journey

/in , /by

Local artist and mental health advocate Sabrina Samuel has released a book of poetry with a portion of proceeds supporting CASASC.

The book She Was is inspired by Samuel’s healing journey, with each poem telling the story of incredible women along the path.

“The work illustrates our dynamic power, but also our humanity,” said Samuel. “Women are multi-dimensional. My hope for the book is that it will be an agent for positive change, celebration, collaboration and discussion. I’m deeply grateful for the help I received from CASASC, so I wanted to partner with them.”

The launch of She Was coincides with Sexual Violence Awareness Month (SVAM) in the month of May and leads up to Mother’s Day.

Samuel said all art is a response to something.

“When you use metaphor to address pain, you can reach people differently,” she said. “I understand fully that racialized women are the most vulnerable to abuse, harassment and assault. I don’t want to be a statistic. This work has shown me I’m owning more of my story each day by drawing strength from my feminine influences.”

She Was is available for purchase in-person at Cheeky Couture’s Boutique on Gasoline Alley, Housewarmings in downtown Red Deer, at the CASASC main office or by emailing surrenderliving@gmail.com

Copies are $20 each with 50 per cent of the proceeds supporting CASASC. A $5 delivery fee will be charged to orders outside of Red Deer.

She Was has been selected by Lloydminster and Vermillion for Equity’s Monthly Book Club for May 2 at 2 p.m. Samuel will also be a guest on Coffee Chat with CASASC on May 6 at 10:30 a.m. on CASASC’s Instagram page (@CASASC3).

Samuel is hosting the She Was Author’s Launch on Friday, April 30 at 7 p.m. via Zoom. The launch will feature a reading, input from other readers, a Q & A segment, door prizes and giveaways.

For more information about She Was visit facebook.com/surrenderliving or www.surrenderliving.com

Readers are encouraged to participate in the She Was challenge by selecting a poem from the book and recording themselves reading it on Facebook or Instagram. Dedicate the post to a great woman and tag them to do the same. Tag @surrenderliving and use the hashtag #shewas to be entered into the challenge. The winner will be selected at the end of SVAM.

Join the conversation for the month by using the hashtag #SVAM for Sexual Violence Awareness Month. Help us eliminate sexual violence in our community by creating a culture of respect.

Support groups for LGBTQ2IA+ community launched

/in /by

Members of the LGBTQ2IA+ community who are healing from sexual violence will soon have some more support.

The Central Alberta Sexual Assault Support Centre (CASASC) in partnership with the Red Deer Queer Community Association (RDQCA) will be offering support groups for LGBTQ2IA+ youths and adult survivors next month.

The support groups will be facilitated virtually and will give members of the LGBTQ2IA+ community who are survivors of sexual violence an opportunity to feel accepted, heard and understood.

“Sexual violence can have psychological, emotional, and physical effects on any survivor regardless of race, religion, age, or gender,” said CASASC Executive Director Patricia Arango. “Overall, the survivor support groups allow young women and 2SLGBTQ+ individuals affected by sexual violence to discover new ways to cope and link with other survivors to develop a sense of community which survivors might be missing in their lives.”

Arango said the groups are designed to encourage individuals who have been affected by sexual violence to regain their voice in a space of healing.

“We are giving them the ability to take back their power,” she said.

Support groups have restorative effects to survivors as they create safe spaces where individuals feel comfortable not only expressing their feelings, but to talk about the impacts of sexual violence has on their lives. Individuals in the groups can begin to heal through support facilitated by RDQCA hosts and trained counsellors of CASASC.

“RDQCA is thrilled to be working with CASASC as the organization has always been a huge advocate for the LGBTQ2IA+ community,” said RDQCA Chairperson Rhys Pugatschew. “RDQCA hopes this group will help LGBTQ2IA+ folk find their community and heal together. Being a part of the community has never been easy and we hope this program will bring everyone together during this difficult time.”

The support groups are funded through the Fund for Gender Equality. The Fund for Gender Equality is supported by a collaboration between Community Foundations of Canada and the Equality Fund, with support from the Government of Canada.

The virtual group sessions launch next month with the adult group starting on May 6 at 5:30 p.m. and youth group starting May 8 at 2:30 p.m.

For more information or to sign up contact CASASC at 403-340-1124 or email reddeerqueercommunity@gmail.com

Find more info on RDQCA here 

Your 2021 Guide to Sexual Violence Awareness Month

/in , /by

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 Respect. 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 Respect Month and the iRespect Campaign

SVAM is about more than awareness – the ultimate goal is prevention. This year’s theme centres around creating a culture of respect everywhere we go.

CASASC believes the best way to prevent sexual violence is through the concept of respect. The idea for Respect Month is based off of CASASC’s proactive campaign titled iRespect. The goal of iRespect is to encourage everyone to conduct their lives and treat one another with respect. In this, sexual violence, and violence in general, will be eliminated. This campaign focuses on awareness and creating positive changes, dispelling the negative connotations of “rape culture.”

By promoting respect for others, you promote respect for yourself which is the most important. Together, we can create a culture of respect.

Sexual violence needs to be addressed and a message of hope needs to be relayed to survivors. This is why we choose to take action through showing respect.

Key Messages: Sexual Violence and Prevention

 Sexual violence is a serious and widespread problem. Anyone can experience sexual violence in their lifetime, however most incidents occur against women and girls.

In Canada, 87 per cent of survivors are women and girls. Ninety-four per cent of offenders are men. Sexual violence is the most underreported crime in Canada. Ninety-five per cent of survivors do not report their assaults to the police.

Statistics also show that some groups are more likely to experience sexual violence including: Indigenous women and girls, children and adolescents, people with disabilities, those of the LGBTQ2IA+ community and new Canadians.

When we speak about prevention, we mean stopping sexual violence before it even has a chance to happen. This means changing the social norms that allow it to exist in the first place, from individual attitudes, values, and behaviors to laws, institutions, and widespread social norms. CASASC believes this is achieved through the concept of respect.

Prevention is all our responsibility. We can create and promote safe respectful environments through all facets of our lives. We can intervene to stop concerning behavior; promote and model healthy attitudes and relationships; promote the creation of a culture of respect; and believe survivors and assist them in finding the support they need.

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 creating a culture of respect. Want to get involved? We’ve got you covered. We have an array of events and ways for you to participate in Respect Month. More details about each individual event will be released throughout the month.

 

Calendar of Events:

-May 1 – Launch of Respect Month

We are going to relaunch the iRespect campaign. Find out how you can take action and create a culture of respect wherever you go.

-May 10 and May 31 – iRespect Yoga

Join CASASC staff as they lead two virtual respect-themed yoga classes designed for all bodies and abilities. On May 10 tune in at noon for a 30-minute accessible work-breather session where you are. No mat required. Join us on May 31 at 7 p.m. for a hatha practice. The sessions will be hosted by CASASC on Instagram live. Preregistration is not required.

-May 7 and May 21 – Respect education social media takeover

Tune in to our social media accounts when the education team takes over to talk about creating a culture of respect and other sexual violence issues in our community.

-May 6 and TBA – Coffee Chat with CASASC

Our online coffee chat show will return with two featured guests during the month of May. Our first chat is set for Thursday, May 6 at 10:30 a.m. with Sabrina Samuel, author of She Was. The second chat date and guest will be announced soon.

-May 13 and May 19 – CASASC Services + Intro to Sexual Violence presentation

Curious about what services CASASC offers? Want to enhance your sexual violence education? The CASASC education team will be hosting two virtual presentations via Zoom. on May 13 at 10:30 a.m. and May 19 at 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. The Services + Intro to Sexual Violence presentation is a public awareness and education presentation that introduces and highlights definitions and concepts related to sexual violence. It provides an overview as well as disclosure support and of course, a birds-eye view of all services and programs available at CASASC.

-May 28 – Respect Day

Day of Action. Wear your #iRespect t-shirt or the colour teal on this day.

-May 29 – IRESPECT scavenger hunt (Postponed)

Hunt for giant letters hidden around Central Alberta. Win prizes, activities and more.

-May 9, May 16, May 23 and May 30 – iRespect Myself, iNourish My Body Recipe Series

Each Sunday watch for a new healthy recipe you can try at home.

 

Available all month long:

-iRespect colouring pages

Join Ressie the Respect unicorn and colour two pages. Ressie wants to know one thing you can do to show respect? Share with us your coloured pictures to be entered to win a special prize. Email education@casasc.ca to be entered into the draw.

-iRespect statement sign

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 hashtag.

-iRespect – MADE TO RESPECT t-shirts

Individuals are encouraged to wear the classic CASASC t-shirt throughout the month. 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 hashtag.

-iRespect playlist

Listen to a respect and empowerment playlist curated by CASASC staff.

Find these month-long offerings on the iRespect tab of the CASASC website https://casasc.ca/irespect/ launching May 1.

 

Checking your social media feeds anyways? Follow CASASC on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and YouTube where we will be sharing information, statistics, resources, graphics and videos for SVAM throughout the month of May. Share our posts, tag CASASC and encourage others to do the same.

 

Facebook: @CASASCRD

Twitter: @CASASC2

Instagram: @CASASC3

YouTube: Let’s Connect – CASASC

 

Hashtags: #iRespect, #SVAM, #cultureofrespect