Episode 4 - Sexual Violence and the media  

The Harmony Project brings together local service providers working towards ending sexual violence in our community. In our fourth season of Let the Truth Talk, we focus on how sexual violence has been presented in the news. In this episode we talk with Cheryl Wallach from the Association of Alberta Sexual Assault Services (AASAS). Our conversation focuses on how the media presents sexual violence and how that can shape societal perceptions, influence public discourse, and ultimately impact the experiences of survivors. We delve into the role of storytelling, representation, and the responsibility of media outlets in fostering a more empathetic and informed understanding of sexual violence. Join us as we explore the potential for media to contribute to positive change and challenge harmful narratives surrounding this sensitive issue. 

Below are some resources that we mentioned in the episode:   

https://aasas.ca/about-sexual-violence/research-fact-sheets/ 

https://possibilityseeds.ca/resources/ 

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/investigations/unfounded-sexual-assault-canada-main/article33891309/ 

https://www.vox.com/culture/2023/1/10/23547393/andrew-tate-toxic-masculinity-qa 

https://www.nextgenmen.ca/ 

https://momentsmatter.info/ 

For more information on the Harmony Project check out our website www.harmonyproject.ca 

  Follow us on social media @ywcabanff   

  
The Harmony Project’s diverse stakeholders through expertise and experience are working together to end sexualized violence in the Bow Valley.  The Harmony Project is funded by the Ministry of Community and Social Services on behalf of the Government of Alberta.  

 
If you have questions, comments or want to talk to us at the YWCA Banff, you can email support@ywcabanff.ca  

For more information please check out harmonyproject.ca

Episode 3 - Sexual Violence and the Law  

The Harmony Project brings together local service providers working towards ending sexual violence in our community. In our fourth season of Let the Truth Talk, we focus on how sexual violence has been presented in the news. In this episode we talk with Lisa Bell from the Calgary Sexual Assault Response Team.  Our conversation is focused on how certain laws have changed in Canada and how they have been presented in the news.  We hope this episode is informative for all our listeners.  

Below are some resources that we mentioned in the episode:   

https://www.albertahealthservices.ca/findhealth/service.aspx?id=1962 

https://www.alberta.ca/clares-law 

Understanding the Extreme Intoxication DefenceVAW Learning Networkhttps://gbvlearningnetwork.ca › briefs › briefpdfs 

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/stealthing-sex-without-condom-consent-canada-supreme-court_n_62e5c771e4b006483a9e1745 

https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/rcmp-stealthing-sexual-assault-1.6062324 

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/nonconsensual-condom-removal-stealthing-illegal-california_n_6160c608e4b024dc5280fc8d 

https://www.cnn.com/2021/10/15/opinions/stealthing-california-law-michaela-coel-stewart/index.html 

https://www.vawlearningnetwork.ca/our-work/briefs/extreme-intoxication-defence-brief.html?utm_source=VAWLN+Mailing+List&utm_campaign=282e65082a-Facebook-Live-Martis_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_4b8703155f-282e65082a-269953555 

https://www.vawlearningnetwork.ca/our-work/issuebased_newsletters/issue-38/index.html 

For more information on the Harmony Project check out our website www.harmonyproject.ca 

  Follow us on social media @ywcabanff   

  
The Harmony Project’s diverse stakeholders through expertise and experience are working together to end sexualized violence in the Bow Valley.  The Harmony Project is funded by the Ministry of Community and Social Services on behalf of the Government of Alberta.  

 
If you have questions, comments or want to talk to us at the YWCA Banff, you can email support@ywcabanff.ca  

For more information please check out harmonyproject.ca

Episode 2 - Sexual Violence in Sports  

““Abuse is a dirty hidden secret in sports and what people are seeing is the tip of the iceberg,” Kirsty Duncan, the former deputy leader of government in the House of Commons 

The Harmony Project brings together local service providers working towards ending sexual violence in our community. In our fourth season of Let the Truth Talk, we focus on how sexual violence has been presented in the news. In this episode we talk with Joe Campbell from The Alberta Council of Womens Shelters and Abby Spadafora from Gymnasts for Change Canada.  

This episode highlights the work of these organizations in how they are working towards ending abuse and violence in sports, changing the culture from the inside out.  

Below are some resources that we mentioned in the episode:   

https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/hockey-canada-house-of-commons-committee-1.6533439 

https://www.crave.ca/en/tv-shows/broken-inside-the-toxic-culture-of-canadian-gymnastics 

https://acws.ca/ 

https://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/hockey-canada-action-plan-combat-abuse-1.6531217 

https://www.gymnasts4changecanada.com/ 

https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/national-judicial-inquiry-athletes-1.6659144 

For more information on the Harmony Project check out our website www.harmonyproject.ca 

  Follow us on social media @ywcabanff   

  
The Harmony Project’s diverse stakeholders through expertise and experience are working together to end sexualized violence in the Bow Valley.  The Harmony Project is funded by the Ministry of Community and Social Services on behalf of the Government of Alberta.  

 
If you have questions, comments or want to talk to us at the YWCA Banff, you can email support@ywcabanff.ca  

For more information please check out harmonyproject.ca

Episode 1 - Sexual Violence in the News in the Bow Valley  

The Harmony Project brings together local service providers working towards ending sexual violence in our community. In our fourth season of Let the Truth Talk, we focus on how sexual violence has been presented in the news.  In this episode we talk with Staff Sargent Mike Buxton Carr from the RCMP Banff Detachment.   

He shares some local stats, concerns felt by many community members and how the RCMP handle sexual violence cases.   

Below are some resources that we mentioned in the episode:   

• https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/national-sexual-assault-rate-highest-since-1996-violent-crimes-up-statistics-canada-1.6538842 
• https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/rcmp-banff-ywca-sexual-assault-domestic-violence-1.6641255 
• https://www.facebook.com/RCMPBanff/ 

For more information on the Harmony Project check out our website www.harmonyproject.ca 

  Follow us on social media @ywcabanff   

  
The Harmony Project’s diverse stakeholders through expertise and experience are working together to end sexualized violence in the Bow Valley.  The Harmony Project is funded by the Ministry of Community and Social Services on behalf of the Government of Alberta.  

  
If you have questions, comments or want to talk to us at the YWCA Banff, you can email support@ywcabanff.ca  

For more information please check out harmonyproject.ca

May is Sexual Violence Awareness Month and the Harmony Project wanted to create an episode for anyone who has experienced or supported someone going through sexual violence.  We sit down to talk about what it could look like seeking legal or medical supports and what your options are. 

Some of the resources we mentioned in this episode are:
YWCA Banff 24 hour crisis line - 403-760-3200
Alberta's 1 line 24 hour crisis line (call or text) 1-866-403-8000

Our resources: 

https://ywcabanff.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/survivors_guide-october_2020.pdf 

https://ywcabanff.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/I-Was-Sexually-Assaulted-Now-What-brochure.pdf 

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/rcmp-banff-ywca-sexual-assault-domestic-violence-1.6641255 

Mental Health services: 

https://www.seethesigns.ca/ 

https://www.albertahealthservices.ca/services/page11443.aspx 

Art therapy for those affected by sexual violence – register here  

https://forms.gle/fCxA6j8GEqHa69gj8 

For more information please check out harmonyproject.ca

The Harmony Project brings together local service providers working towards ending sexual violence in our community.  Our third season follows along with Sexual Violence Awareness Month which happens each May in Alberta.  This year our theme is “Becoming Upstanders”.    An upstander is someone who recognizes actions, attitudes and beliefs that normalize violence and stands up to and challenges them.  We believe everyone has a role in making our community safe. Knowing how to take a stand against violence and harassment is one way we can create change; together, we can create a Bow Valley that is free from sexualized violence. 
  
In this episode Tara & Tandia talk about drink spiking in the community.  We review Drug Facilitated Sexual Assault (DFSA's), being upstanders while out in the community & what the Harmony Project has been doing to stop this from happening in the Bow Valley.  

Below are some links that we mentioned in the episode:  

Western university centre for violence against women and children  - https://www.learningtoendabuse.ca/ 

 Drink‐Spiking and sexual assault: Innovative approaches to a difficult problem  

 - https://www.researchgate.net/publication/230021386_Drink-Spiking_and_sexual_assault_Innovative_approaches_to_a_difficult_problem 

If you would like to participate in the free bystander training on May 24th use this link to register https://ywcabanff.ca/programs-services/harmony-project/#communitytraining 

 
For more information on the Harmony Project check out our website www.harmonyproject.ca     Follow us on social media @ywcabanff  

 
The Harmony Project’s diverse stakeholders through expertise and experience are working together to end sexualized violence in the Bow Valley.  The Harmony Project is funded by the Ministry of Community and Social Services on behalf of the Government of Alberta. 

 
If you have questions, comments or want to talk to us at the YWCA you can email yps@ywcabanff.ca 

For more information please check out harmonyproject.ca

The Harmony Project brings together local service providers working towards ending sexual violence in our community.  Our third season follows along with Sexual Violence Awareness Month which happens each May in Alberta.  This year our theme is “Becoming Upstanders”.    An upstander is someone who recognizes actions, attitudes and beliefs that normalize violence and stands up to and challenges them.  We believe everyone has a role in making our community safe. Knowing how to take a stand against violence and harassment is one way we can create change; together, we can create a Bow Valley that is free from sexualized violence. 
  
In this episode we speak with Deren (or Mr D) from Right from the Start. They believe that every child, family and community can maintain and value health and well-being, in its entirety, right from the start.  This episode covers being upstanders in school as well as how someone could stand up to bullying or meanness at school, online, at work or in our community.   

Below are some links that we mentioned in the episode:  

https://kidshelpphone.ca/     If you are a young person looking for support, please call 1-800-668-6868 or text CONNECT to 686868. No issue is too big or too small. 

https://www.pinkshirtday.ca/ 

Be a Super Ally with the 5D's - YouTube video series from Right to Be (formally Hollaback)  

https://www.ualberta.ca/current-students/sexual-assault-centre/create-change.html#:~:text=The%20pyramid%20of%20Sexual%20Violence,violence%20is%20allowed%20to%20continue. 

 
For more information on the Harmony Project check out our website www.harmonyproject.ca     Follow us on social media @ywcabanff  

 
The Harmony Project’s diverse stakeholders through expertise and experience are working together to end sexualized violence in the Bow Valley.  The Harmony Project is funded by the Ministry of Community and Social Services on behalf of the Government of Alberta. 

 
If you have questions, comments or want to talk to us at the YWCA you can email yps@ywcabanff.ca 

For more information please check out harmonyproject.ca

The Harmony Project brings together local service providers working towards ending sexual violence in our community.  Our third season follows along with Sexual Violence Awareness Month which happens each May in Alberta.  This year our theme is “Becoming Upstanders”.    An upstander is someone who recognizes actions, attitudes and beliefs that normalize violence and stands up to and challenges them.  We believe everyone has a role in making our community safe. Knowing how to take a stand against violence and harassment is one way we can create change; together, we can create a Bow Valley that is free from sexualized violence.
 
In this episode we speak with Corinne Ofstie from the Association of Alberta Sexual Assault Services – or AASAS.  Corine talks to us about the campaign and how respected and effective leaders keep workers healthy and safe and help stop sexual harassment.  To find out more about the #momentsmatter campaign check out their page here https://momentsmatter.info/ 

 
For more information on the Harmony Project check out our website www.harmonyproject.ca     Follow us on social media @ywcabanff  

 
The Harmony Project’s diverse stakeholders through expertise and experience are working together to end sexualized violence in the Bow Valley.  The Harmony Project is funded by the Ministry of Community and Social Services on behalf of the Government of Alberta. 

 
If you have questions, comments or want to talk to us at the YWCA you can email yps@ywcabanff.ca 

For more information please check out harmonyproject.ca