Calgary Roughnecks – Join us at the finals

Over the winter we partnered with the Calgary Roughnecks, Calgary’s professional box lacrosse team, to raise funds.

The good news is, the team has made it into the NLL finals and we are selling tickets to what could be the final home game when the roughnecks clench the title.

Purchase a ticket for this playoff game on Saturday, May 25 and receive an unforgettable Saturday night of fun while supporting a great cause. Roughnecks games are fast, fun and entertaining for everyone.

CASASC raises money for each ticket that’s sold. That’s right. It’s as easy as going to the link below and making your purchase directly with the Roughnecks:

https://calgaryroughnecks.com/casasc/

This one-time fundraiser ticket feature (with the amazing discounted ticket rate) will be offered for this home game.

Grab your friends and let’s raise some funds for CASASC.

 

 

Shine a Light on Sexual Violence: Your 2019 Guide to SVAM

 

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 Shine a Light on Sexual Violence. 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 Shine A Light

Sexual Violence Awareness Month is about more than awareness – the ultimate goal is prevention. This year’s theme centres around shining a light on the issue of sexual violence, bringing out an often taboo topic to the light of the public realm. Whether it is talking about the issue of consent, taking action, or stepping toward prevention through respect and education – sexual violence needs to be addressed.

Survivors of sexual violence often feel they are hiding in the dark, that they cannot come forward. One client expressed to us that she felt like “pulling the blankets over her head,” after her experience. A child age client supported by CASASC had this to say to other survivors: “Hold on. Someone needs to hear your story. Don’t give up. I refuse to sink. Don’t let anyone dull your shine! Stars can’t shine without darkness.”

Through the light, we can move forward and heal. Through the light we can take steps toward prevention. This is why we shine a light on sexual violence.

 

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 LGBTQ 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 taking action. Want to get involved? We’ve got you covered. We’ve created custom SVAM graphics for you to share, tweet and tag CASASC throughout the month, along with many other resources:

 

Respect Day

Your week-to-week guide: Shine A Light

Week 1: Consent (May 1 – May 7)

Week 2: Action (May 8 – May 14)

Week 3: Respect (May 15 – May 21)

Week 4: Education (May 22 – May 28)

 

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

Central Alberta Fit Body Bootcamps Celebrate Respect

During the first week of April, four Central Alberta Fit Body Bootcamp locations teamed up with CASASC to promote the #iRespect campaign.

South Red Deer, Ponoka, Innisfail and Lacombe Fit Body Bootcamps sold CASASC’s MADE TO RESPECT t-shirts at their facilities, encouraging attendees to wear their shirts to class.

On April 17, CASASC was presented with a donation of $1,968 from the four locations.

We are grateful to the locations for promoting the message of respect and supporting this important awareness campaign.

 

 

 

National Volunteer Week

National Volunteer Week 2019 was celebrated from April 7 to April 13.

The Central Alberta Sexual Assault Support Centre has a team of 70 plus volunteers who lift up those in our community 24 hours a day.

In honour of National Volunteer Week 2019, we asked our volunteers why they give their time. On our social media channels we featured a series that showcased their responses – their volunteer factor, why they volunteer.

“Everyone deserves to be heard and needs to be given a chance to be heard. Silently listening can be all someone needs to bring some rest to a restless heart.”

 

First annual Women’s March Red Deer set for March 9

In recognition of International Women’s Day, the Central Alberta Sexual Assault Support Centre (CASASC), Red Deer Welcoming and Inclusive Communities (WIC) and the Central Alberta Immigrant Women’s Association (CAIWA)will partner together for the first annual Women’s March Red Deer.

Join us on Saturday, March 9 for an empowering march designed to bring awareness and encourage women to be a visible force for positive change.

The event will start at 11 a.m. at CAIWA’s Club Café (5019 Ross Street) with a pre-gathering and smudge. The march will launch from the café at 11:30 a.m., winding through the downtown core, returning by noon.

All are invited to attend the march – all cultures, abilities, ages, races and gender identities.

Following the march through downtown Red Deer, a potluck lunch and sharing circle will be held. Attendees can bring food items to share with the group.

The purpose of the march is to not only bring awareness around International Women’s Day, but to connect a diverse group of women from the central Alberta region to create unity and solidarity in the community.

“The theme for Red Deer Women’s March is women healing communities,” said Sadia Khan, march organizer. “Women have always been the heart of healing communities, peacebuilding and a visible force for positive change.”

We must equip and empower the women, especially the younger generation to be a catalyst for change.”

Attendees are encouraged to bring signage for the march that is empowering, inclusive and respectful.

The goal and messaging of the Red Deer Women’s March aligns with Women’s March Canada, on the principals that all people of all backgrounds – women and men, gender non-conforming people, indigenous and immigrants, of diverse faiths, abilities and ages – are all deserving of equality, justice, freedom and inclusion.

“We will continue to embody these principles to amplify and activate issues using education, mobilization, dialogue engagement and collective action,” said Khan. “As women we fight across time and space against all forms of discrimination, exclusion, marginalization, violence and lack of equal opportunities. This march is an opportunity to reflect, rejoice and recharge together in community with amazing women to amplify awareness and dialogue.”

A poster making party will be held on March 3 for those who want to make a sign in advance in a collaborative setting.

Organizers plan to make the march an annual event.

Information on media availability on the day of the event will be released one week in advance.

President’s Challenge Scores Big

CASASC ended up the big winner of the President’s Challenge over the weekend.

The back-to-back event saw Olds College President Stuart Cullum and Red Deer College (RDC) President Joel Ward face off on the court in a game of twenty-one on February 8 and February 9.

The challenge also featured a taste test, with Olds College Brewery vs. Red Deer’s Troubled Monk Brewery, both offering samples for a nominal donation to CASASC.

Staged during the RDC Kings and Queens and Olds College Bronco’s last regular season basketball games, the challenge was an opportunity to bring awareness to the issue of sexual violence and the services CASASC offers.

Once the double-header wrapped up, CASASC raised $456.50 in donations.

 

 

 

Buy a ticket, support CASASC

CASASC and The Calgary Rougnecks, Calgary’s professional box lacrosse team, have partnered together to raise funds.

Purchase tickets for a home game this season and receive a Saturday night of fun while supporting a great cause. Roughnecks games are fast, fun and entertaining for everyone.

CASASC raises money for each ticket that’s sold. That’s right. It’s as easy as going to the link below and making your purchase directly with the Roughnecks:

http://calgaryroughnecks.com/casasc/

Alternatively, you can go to the ticket page for an upcoming game and placing the code 10F104 into the Ticketmaster offer code box to unlock fundraiser savings.

This fundraiser ticket feature (with the discounted ticket rate) will be offered for the next home game. See the Roughnecks schedule here: http://calgaryroughnecks.com/schedule/

Grab your friends, pick a few games and let’s raise some funds for CASASC.

Changing the Conversation

Sexual violence was the topic last Thursday at Changing the Conversation – an awareness event at Red Deer College (RDC).

Organized by two RDC students with the support of the Central Alberta Sexual Assault Support Centre (CASASC) and the RDC Students’ Association, the purpose of the event was to create awareness around sexual violence, including rape prevention, victim blaming, consent and respect. The organizers’ goal is to shift the focus from placing blame on the victim to the perpetrators of these crimes.

Attendees perused the information booth and were handed a bag of tea, connected to the “consent as tea” video the students had playing as one of the information items.

The event positively showcased the benefits of creating a culture of respect. Feedback from students and faculty was encouraging.

This is the third year for the health promotion and prevention project between the three organizers. Last year’s two events were titled “Are you SEXcessful?,” an awareness and guidance event about positive sexual health and “This is What I Was Wearing When It Happened”, a reflection event bringing awareness around victim blaming and the stigma surrounding women’s clothing as the reason why they were sexually assaulted.

 

#IBelieveYou… Now What?

“I Believe You… now what?” was the topic of discussion on November 22 at a student-led forum at Red Deer College (RDC).

The Margaret Parsons Theatre was a full house, with several panelists speaking on the issue of sexual violence.

Two student ambassadors designed the evening event as part of the 2018 I Believe You campaign. The keynote event of the campaign featured six panelists from several disciplines and schools of thought within RDC including Sociology, Anthropology, Psychology, Philosophy and Criminal Justice.

Each panelist presented briefly from their perspective, which was followed by a question and answer period from students and the general public who were in attendance.

The evening was well attended and brought out a thoughtful discussion, to be continued on in to daily life, surrounding victim blaming, false reporting and the concept of creating a culture of respect.

 

2018 Front Line Service Providers’ Awards

The CASASC team attended the 2018 Front Line Service Providers’ Awards on Nov. 7 at the Radisson Hotel in Red Deer.

The 14th 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 Volunteer/SART Coordinator Michele Kercher was nominated for a Front Line Service Providers’ Award for her dedicated work in the community, working on the front line to assist those in crisis.

CASASC Crisis Support Worker Kassandra Crayston was nominated for a Front Line Service Providers’ Award for being “always ready to respond, Kassandra ensures clients and those in crisis feel heard, believed and supported.”

CASASC would like to congratulate all of the nominees and recipients at this year’s award ceremony.