REGINA — A partnership between the YWCA Regina and the Regina and Area Sexual Centre (RSAC) will raise awareness for Sexual Violence Prevention Month in the province.
The groups have organized a walk, "No Walkin’ Back Now," focused on education, action, and healing. The walk will take place on Wednesday, May 14, from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m., starting at the O’Hanlon’s Irish Pub.
The walk "invites residents to reclaim public spaces where women and gender-diverse individuals have historically felt unsafe," according to the news release.
Along the route, those walking will participate in a living timeline gallery, which will showcase how gender-based violence has been shaped by multiple factors.
Melissa Coomber-Bendtsen, CEO of YWCA Regina, said, "every step we take is a reminder that survivors are not alone and that change is possible when a community comes together to increase their awareness and take action."
Chantelle Priel, Survivor Support and Advocacy Coordinator at RSAC, said the walk represents how survivors feel unsafe in unpredictable environments.
Saskatchewan continues to have one of the highest rates of sexual assaults, as one in three women experiences it in their lifetime.
Both groups noted this can lead to women dealing with long-term impacts, including depression, anxiety and more.
