Mobilizing Voices for Change in 2015

WINTER 2014/15
IN THIS ISSUE
• Volunteer Hours in a
Box and Training
• Criminal Injuries Compensation Board
• Upcoming Events and
Workshops
• Call for Survivors for
Research Study
2014/15
BOARD OF
DIRECTORS
President: Michelle Martin
Treasurer:
Martin Higgs
Secretary:
Phillip Redford
Directors:
April Aldridge Lauricella
Catherine McGrath
indi Miskolczi
Agata Wesolowski
Jen Sage
Eden Maher
Samantha Gervais
Registered Charitable Number:
107837528 RR 0001
Mobilizing Voices for Change in 2015
By Sonya Vellenga, Executive Director
Welcome to our winter edition of our
newsletter! We invite you to read about
the work we have done over the past
season and our plans for the months
ahead.
This has been a busy fall! Each day, the
media - whether it be print or online
- covered an area relevant to the continuum of sexual violence. As a Centre,
the impact of enhanced media coverage
meant that our volume increased on our
phone lines, in our office space, and in
our media outreach.
I reflect on the story headlines: that of
Jian Ghomeshi and a belief that violence
without consent is to be assumed, that of
Bill Crosby and the assumption of consent while drugged, that of our elective officials on Parliament Hill and the
assumption that sexual harassment is a
part of all workplaces, that of sexual assault at our colleges and universities and
the assumption that sexual violence is
part of one’s post-secondary experience. Research tells us that many women do
not label their unwanted sexual experience as sexual abuse or assault, but
perhaps a ‘bad date,’ and only later
acknowledge the violence when triggered by talking about their experience to people who offer her support. We hope that as a society, we are moving to a culture of being the ‘supportive other’ in a survivor’s life; one
that does not leave the individual to see
themselves as ‘less than’ or shamed because of this unwanted experience.
On December 4, 2014, Premier Kathleen Wynne announced a package
of initiatives to raise awareness of sexual
violence and harassment, enhance prevention initiatives to combat sexual violence, and improve support for
victims. As a Centre, we are a member
of the Ontario Coalition of Rape Crisis
Centres and we are looking forward to
fostering a leadership role provincially
and locally. The commitment from the
province has never been stronger and
the Kawartha Sexual Assault Centre is
also well positioned to move forward
with this work.
In addition, as we begin our research
study in partnership with local community services, we believe that our community is motivated to move forward.
It is with your support that we can continue our work. Let us work together
in 2015 to give voice and be heard.
2
Lighting the Way in Our
Four Counties
Abuse: Survival Stories
Comes to Peterborough
Take Back the Night is an international movement that is
organized in local communities with the purpose of unifying voices in the call to end sexual violence against women. In the four counties of Peterborough, Northumberland,
Kawartha Lakes and Haliburton, the Centre welcomed the
230 survivors and allies who participated in four simultaneous Light Your Way Walks as part of this movement.
As part of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based
Violence, Kawartha Sexual Assault Centre, Courage Ptbo,
the Peterborough SLAM Poetry Collective, and the Survivor’s Advisory Committee of the Peterborough Domestic
Abuse Network partnered to host the first Peterboroughbased Abuse: Survival Stories event on Sunday, December
7, 2014.
Each county event, partnered with Fleming College, had a
different theme on the evening of Thursday, September 18.
Haliburton’s walk was lead by bagpipers, Peterborough’s
was lead by the Area 705 Roller Derby Team, Kawartha
Lakes group met at a Tipi and held a sacred fire, and Northumberland featured singing, poetry and stories.
A Toronto-based nonprofit event series, Abuse: Survival
Stories supports people who have experienced domestic
violence, psychological abuse, and sexual violence. This
safe, positive space, which welcomed 50 people to the
downtown Peterborough Public Library Auditorium, combined raw testimonials from survivors with inspirational
spoken word and song, and creative exercises. Abuse:
Survival Stories is a peer-to-peer healing experience that
uplifts both the mind and soul.
Despite cool temperatures, the events were warm and
heartfelt. Kawartha Sexual Assault Centre appreciates
the many partnerships we have in the four counties that
enabled this event at Fleming College campuses. We want
to thank all our performers and volunteers, staff at Fleming
College, Ptbo Slam Poetry Collective, Courage Ptbo, Community Care Haliburton and Community Care Lindsay for
making this candle lit September evening so compelling
and courageous.
We want to thank Reesee, Program Director of Abuse:
Survivor Stories, Denyce and Paola from the team, for
coming up to Peterborough and facilitating this event for
our community partners. If you are interested in seeing the
event come back to our region, please contact Lisa Clarke
at 705-748-5901 ext. 204 or [email protected].
(Left) On Thursday, September 18, the Centre held the Light
the Way Walk, a Take Back the Night event, in the four
counties of Peterborough, Northumberland, Kawartha Lakes
and Haliburton, with the support of Fleming College. (Photo
copyright of the Peterborough Examiner 2014).
(Bottom Left) The Centre joined the Peterborough Pride 2014
parade on Saturday, September 20, wearing purple in
solidarity with the Courage Ptbo movement.
(Bottom Right) To recognize 16 Days of Activism Against
Gender Based Violence, the Centre asks us all to “Do Something” in the display window of Brant Basics Office Supply.
3
“My shame was strangling me and now I can breathe.” ~ Client of the Centre
Volunteer Hours in a Box: A Community Impact Tool
The Volunteer Hours in a Box program is a new
initiative that gives potential volunteers and students the opportunity to complete a blocked set of
hours in a unique and interactive way. Whether high
school or post-secondary students, or community
members, the Volunteer Hours in a Box provides
an enriched experience by offering various unique
opportunities to choose from, such as, hosting a
film screening, to advocating through chalk art,
making buttons, to starting a bystander intervention
initiative. Each box is designed to increase skills,
knowledge, and meet the criteria of your community
service hours, while supporting our Centre’s mission and services. If you would like to learn more
about this exciting opportunity please contact the
Volunteer Services Coordinator at 705-748-5901,
How to Volunteer Today!
Visit www.kawarthasexualassaultcentre.com, go
to the volunteer tab and select the KSAC Volunteer
Training. Follow the tutorial to help you get started.
Through Level 1 training, you will learn more about
our Centre and the services we provide. Furthermore, you will be able explore our various volunteer
opportunities, the different levels of training we provide, as well as our application process. We offer up
to 3 levels of training, plus professional development
opportunities, to aide in your volunteer experience
depending on your interests.
To learn more, we invite you to our next Volunteer
Orientation on Tuesday, January 27, 2015 from 6:00 pm to 8:30 pm. Please contact the Volunteer
Services Coordinator, Lindsay Haacke, at [email protected] or 705-748-5901.
Level 3 in-class training Tuesday, February 10, 2015 from 6pm to 9pm
Tuesday, February 17, 2015 from 6pm to 9pm
Tuesday, February 24, 2015 from 6pm to 9pm
or to begin the volunteer intake process, please visit
www.kawarthasexualassaultcentre.com to complete
our Level 1 Volunteer Training.
Sowing the S.E.E.D.s for
Support Networks
Support, Education, Empowerment, Developing Skills
(SEED) is a 3-week psycho-educational workshop series
for women on healing from sexual violence. The workshop
creates a safe learning environment where participants do
not have to share personal information or history. Rather,
they work together through topics including grounding,
self-care, stages of healing, understanding trauma and its
impact on the body and mind, understanding and healthy
expression of emotions, flashbacks and intrusive thoughts,
relaxation techniques, healthy coping skills and resiliency.
The workshops use a variety of instructional methods
including presentations, grounding techniques and home
practice exercises.
In the new year, we will be offering a SEED Series for
people who support survivors, such as family and partners, and hope to continue to develop our SEED Series
to include a workshop for male survivors. After all three
workshops are completed; we work with clients to discuss
next steps in their healing journey.
This workshop series is free, but registration is required.
Call Suzie Compeau at 705-748-5901 ext. 206 or our toll
free number at 1-866-298-7778.
4
“What I have gained is more self-acceptance, more loving kindness for myself and I am more
able to say what I need to say.” ~ Client of the Centre
From Our Students:
By Amie Kroes -- Doing a student placement at The
Kawartha Sexual Assault Centre was the only option I
considered when my Masters of Social Work program
required a 450 hour internship. I knew I wanted a
clinical placement with an opportunity to grow in a
variety of areas, such as public education, advocacy,
group work, individual counselling and program
development. I feel very privileged in that the Centre,
and the friendly staff, were able to accommodate my
goals. Furthermore, I am thrilled to have had the opportunity to contribute to a Centre where I not only
support the mission, but believe it is imperative in our
society.
At the Centre, courageous souls connect on a daily
basis. A part of the work that the Centre does is to
support people who have experienced sexual violence. Telling a perfect stranger your story is beyond
difficult for many. The people I have worked with
have put their faith and trust in me to respond with
care, empathy and knowledge that will ultimately
help them on their healing journey. In this reciprocal relationship with a client, I have the esteemed
privilege to watch a person learn about themselves,
learn strategies for coping, learn that sexual violence
is never their fault, learn that they are worth ‘it’, and
learn how to recreate their new ‘normal.’ People who
engage in their own healing work at the Centre parallels to the learning that happens as a student. I now
know more about myself, more about strategies for
coping, more about sexual violence and its impacts
and most importantly, I have learned a lot about the
resiliency of humans.
If I could only list one take-away moment from my
experience as a student at the Centre, I would talk
about the inherent dignity and worth of all persons.
The Centre’s value of anti-oppressive work speaks
truly to my soul, and I can tell that every client who
enters through the door feels this. Learning and healing are processes so closely linked. When someone
feels valued, respected, able, and supported, they
grow. As Benjamin Franklin once said; “Tell me and I
forget, teach me and I may remember, involve me and
I learn.” I know this to be true because KSAC afforded
me these attributes, and I grew. I know this because
I saw clients feel this, and witnessed their growth. It
was beautiful. It gives me hope. Let’s continue.
Tea &
Talk
Toolkit
The Kawartha Sexual Assault Centre in partnership with
Elder Abuse Ontario, Community Care City of Kawartha
Lakes, Women’s Resources and Adelaide Place, was a recipient of a Canadian Women’s Foundation to fund an abuse
awareness project for older adults. In 2014, the Centre
launched the Tea and Talk Toolkit for residents of the Kawartha Lakes. In 2015, thanks to the support of the Peterborough Foundation, we will launch a County of Peterborough
toolkit!
Tea and Talk Toolkit starts a conversation with seniors
about healthy relationships, and share resources for support services. Group facilitators may use the toolkit to help
talk about maintaining and creating healthy relationships,
increasing support networks, and enhancing lives.
The kit includes a guideline for exploring the following topics: Dating as an older adult, Communication, Protecting
Your Finances, Elder Abuse, Care giving, Self-Esteem, Age
and Discrimination. Any seniors group or organization that
wants to encourage healthy relationships among seniors can
use the toolkit. Its audience is focused on women, but the
material is also relevant for a male audience.
To order, contact: Karen Basciano at 705-748-5910 ext. 210
5
Update: Criminal Injuries Compensation Board
The mission of the Criminal Injuries Compensation
Board (CICB):
Established in 1971, the CICB is Ontario’s independent adjudicative tribunal that assesses and awards
compensation to victims of violent crime in accordance with the Compensation for Victims of Crime
Act. Our mission is to respond effectively to the
diverse needs of victims of violent crime in Ontario
with accessible, fair, respectful and timely assessments of compensation requests.
Kawartha Sexual Assault Centre can assist individuals applying for compensation through CICB, by providing application packages, a safe and quiet space
to complete their application and mailing their application to ensure privacy and delivery. If someone
requires additional one-to-one assistance with their
application, we can assist you with connecting with
agencies that provide this service.
CICB has recently launched several online videos which provide useful tips and information to
help guide victims through each stage of the Board
process. The videos are: About the Board, Filing a
Claim, Preparing for your Hearing, Your Hearing
and After the Hearing. They can be viewed on the
Board’s website at http://www.cicb.gov.on.ca/en/
news.htm and are available in English, French and
with closed captioning.
Weaving Our Voices: Re-membering and Reflecting
“Art holds out the promise of inner wholeness.”
~ Alain de Botton
works of art seemed to latch on to something that
had been felt but never clearly recognized before.
Weaving Our Voices, an expressive arts group, ran
this autumn at Kawartha Sexual Assault Centre. Ten
participants met weekly for three months to share
in the art of healing. Each weekly session consisted
of a poem, a grounding activity, self-care sharing, a
discussion and an art project on themes of impacts
of the trauma of sexual violence. The goal of Weave
is to explore themes of trauma recovery through selfexpression by building a community of women and
the arts.
Through listening to others, observing their works
of art unfold, and marvelling at their own creations,
participants also gained self-understanding. Clients
saw their resilience; it has value and their lives have
worth. There were moments of growth that invited
deeper knowledge of art and the expression as a true
authentic self. We strived to expand the boundaries
of who we think we are. Engagement with art presents us with powerful media that allows us time for
the inner work of learning to deal more compassionately and strategically with trauma.
Weave is about remembering. Reflecting on past experiences, and “re-membering” (e.g. putting pieces
back together in a creative and expressive way). Hope is help and it is cultivated in Weave. With the
kindness of others and our own inner resolve, we
create hope for healing and hope for a more just
society. In the group there is also sorrow; profound
losses spill out into the conversation and the art. It
is a group for re-balancing, re-centering of self, exploring new media and finding oneself anew. From
time to time, participants acknowledged that the
Finally, Weave left participants with a sense of appreciation, an appreciation of the survival skills that
one has developed through life and for the opportunity to connect and share with others on their healing journey.
Weaving Our Voices was facilitated by Expressive
Arts facilitator Cheryl Wood, Clinical Counsellor
Barb Woolner, and MSW Intern Amie Kroes.
The themes in this article come from the seven core functions of expressive arts note in the
philosophical work of Alain De Botton and John Armstrong, Art as Therapy, 2013.
“I felt very safe emotionally and physically. I was able to deal with and confront many of my fears and
triggers.” ~Client of the Centre
Upcoming Winter/Spring Events and Workshops
CIRCLE OF CARE: Peer Support and Self Care Circle for Women - Second and Fourth Tuesday of Each
Month, 10am-12pm at Kawartha Sexual Assault Centre, 411 Water St., Suite 102, Peterborough. Contact
[email protected] or 705-748-5901 for more information.
HEALING THROUGH ART: 10-Week Expressive Arts Group for Trent University/Fleming College students
Starting January 14, 5-7:30 pm at Kawartha Sexual Assault Centre, 411 Water St., Suite 102, Peterborough.
Contact Trent or Fleming Counselling Departments more information.
SEED FOR WOMEN: January 14, 21 and 28, 2015 from 1 pm to 3 pm at Kawartha Sexual Assault Centre.
Also April 20, 27 and May 4, 2015 from 10 am to 12 pm.
SEED FOR PARTNERS AND SUPPORTERS: February 26, March 5 and March 12 from 6 pm to 8 pm at
Kawartha Sexual Assault Centre
RAISING THE BAR: Helping Survivors Navigate Emotions - This self reflective therapeutic group is geared
towards clients who have completed a course of individual therapy. This 10-week group for women focuses on core-mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotional regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness skills.
Wednesdays 1:30 pm to 3:30 pm from March 18 to May 20, 2015. Contact the Centre for more information.
LUNAFEST SHORT FILM FESTIVAL, a [V]DAY Event: The Centre welcomes back Lunafest, a traveling film
festival of short films by, for and about women. Saturday, February 14, 2015 at the Aron Theatre, Campbellford, Ontario. Doors open at 1:30 pm, films start at 2 pm. Call to reserve tickets for $20 for adults, and $12 for students, seniors, and unwaged, at 705-748-5901 (Toll free 1-866-298-7778) or purchase at the door.
Visit kawarthasexualassaultcentre.com for more details. This is a One Billion Rising event.
FOR THE LOVE OF MOM: CHOCOLATE TEA: A Mother’s Day Family Celebration including a chocolate
festival, high tea and a silent auction. Saturday, May 9, 2015 at McDonnel Street Activity Centre, 577 McDonnel St., Peterborough, Ontario, 1pm to 4 pm. Call for tickets, $25 per person at 705-748-5901 (Toll free
1-866-298-7778). Visit kawarthasexualassaultcentre.com for more details.
Your Gift
Changes
Lives
Everyday a survivor walks into the doors of the Kawartha Sexual Assault Centre, you know they have made
an active choice in their life’s journey to grow and thrive. Your donation empowers the Centre to offer our
services in the City of Peterborough and the counties of Peterborough, Kawartha Lakes, Haliburton and
Northumberland. Your gift will provide important sexual violence prevention, crisis support, counselling,
peer support and public education programs. Stand beside us as we say NO MORE sexual violence in our
community.
Please DONATE now online at CanadaHelps.org or call Sonya Vellenga, Executive Director, at 705-7485901 ext. 203 or [email protected].
With Special Thanks to our Funders:
Kawartha Sexual Assault Centre, 411 Water Street, Suite 102, Peterborough, Ontario K9H 3L9
Tel: 705-748-5901 Crisis Line: 705-741-0260 Toll Free: 1-866-298-7778
Visit us online at www.kawarthasexualassaultcentre.com, at Facebook and Twitter @ksacstaff