Silent marchers took to the halls of RDC's main campus on Thursday to help raise awareness of gender-based violence in the community. (rdnewsNOW / Sheldon Spackman)

By Sheldon Spackman

Your Words Matter

Raising awareness of gender-based violence

Nov 28, 2019 | 3:29 PM

Gender-based violence awareness was the focus of an event hosted by the Central Alberta Sexual Assault Support Centre (CASASC) at Red Deer College on Thursday.

Held in partnership with RDC’s Students’ Association (SA), the information fair featured a silent march through the halls of RDC, and occurred on the fourth day of the SA’s 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence campaign.

CASASC executive director Patricia Arango hopes the event encourages people to be aware of consent, and more mindful of our words when speaking about sexual assault.

“We are underprivileged so many times, just because we are women,” she explains. “I am here advocating for equality, we are no different, we are human. You have rights, I have rights, let’s work together.”

Arango says about 68 per cent of their clients at CASASC are women, but adds they are also talking to men now.

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“Men are learning they can reach for help and they can talk, that’s the big difference,” she points-out. “I wish to see more of them, but at least we are offering the service. We are here for you, we will help you any time that you need.”

For most men, Arango says their abuse tends to have happened when they were a child.

“Feel free to reach for help,” she exclaims. “It’s free, we are there, and we also offer the 24 hours text, web chat – they can call anytime.”

(rdnewsNOW / Sheldon Spackman)

Also included in Thursday’s info fair were interactive displays, resources and information about eliminating gender-based violence in the community.

The event precludes a pair of ‘National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women’ moving vigils in central Alberta Dec. 6.

The first will take place at Red Deer City Hall from 4:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. with guest speakers from Central Alberta Women’s Emergency Centre (CAWES), Central Alberta Sexual Assault Support Centre (CASASC), Central Alberta Child Advocacy Centre (CACAC) and mayor Tara Veer.

A second vigil will follow from 6:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. at the Lacombe Memorial Centre and feature guest speakers from CAWES, CASASC, CACAC and Lacombe Victim Services Unit (VSU).