Victoria Sexual Assault Centre
201-3060 Cedar Hill Road V8T 3J5 Victoria, BC, Canada

Today is International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers, a day to honour sex workers, recognize the ongoing violence and social stigma they face, and stand against those who would do harm to them. Sex workers are an integral part of our communities on Lkwungen territories, their work is real work, and they deserve respect, safety and solidarity. This evening Peers Victoria is hosting a vigil at 5 pm. They will give out bags containing a red umbrella & candle to light ...for a socially distanced moment of silence. There will also be an option to join online via Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89814064402 One tap mobile +1 778 907 2071 Canada Meeting ID: 898 1406 4402 Passcode: 249522 [Image Description: The image displays a mural of Coast Salish artist Brianna Bear Art design for Peers’ Sacred Group. The mural was painted by local artist Kay Gallivan, on the side of Wildfire Bakery. Text reads No more stolen sisters, Sacred, December 17 and displays a red umbrella, red high-heeled shoe, and a feather with the silhouette of a person with a long braid woven in, all encompassed in a circle.] #RedUmbrellaDay #SexWorkIsWork #RightsNotRescue #Dec17 #DecriminalizeSexWork #Lkwungenterritories #BelieveSurvivors #SupportSexWorkers

Today Ending Violence Association of British Columbia and the provincial government announced new 3-year funding for emergency sexual assault response across BC. The Victoria Sexual Assault Centre is honoured to be a recipient of funding for our clinic program! We are grateful to the province of BC and EVA BC for helping to sustain Canada’s first sexual assault Clinic here in Victoria and to expand and strengthen sexual assault response across BC. These services save lives an...d set survivors on a path to healing. Thank you to every person who supports the Victoria Sexual Assault Centre and those who have advocated for provincial funding to help sustain our clinic program. The Clinic itself is a collaborative program and requires collective support from the Province and our community to keep its doors open. The funding from the province provides us with a substantial amount of the clinic program’s yearly operating costs, however about one-third of the costs are covered by donations from community members. We’re thankful for the continued generosity of our donors and supporters to keep the clinic open for survivors in the difficult moments when they need support the most. Thank you! VSAC staff share a message of thanks for this funding and the ongoing support of our community:

16 Days of Activism to Against Gender-Based Violence begins tomorrow with the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. Wear purple on November 25 to raise awareness about gender-based violence. #16days #EndGBV . . . .... [Image Description: A young woman with purple hair looks into the camera. The words 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence floats to the left of the woman and is followed by #16Days underneath. All the words are written in white on a black background. Beneath the text, and running the length of the photo, is a purple banner with the Women and Gender Equality Canada corporate identity in the bottom left-hand corner in white text. The Canada wordmark appears in white text in the right-hand corner.] See more

Today, November 20th, is Trans Day of Remembrance. We hold grief and sadness over the loss of hundreds of Trans people across the world who have lost their lives in the past year; and we uplift in respect and gratitude the Trans people who have shone and who continue to shine, often in the face of great inequities. We remember our Trans ancestors who lived bravely and proudly, who created more space for people to live the lives they choose. Usually, we would physically meet ...to honour the sorrow of loss and to acknowledge ongoing resilience. While that’s not an option this year, we invite you to practice your own ritual and ceremony, to give heart-offerings, and remember those who are not with us in the ways we wish them to be. We also invite you to consider supporting your local organizations and campaigns which seek to strengthen Trans lives right now. If you are able to, please support the Victoria Transgender Youth Supports and Prevention Fund here: http://ow.ly/CKIc50CpLyt #TDOR2020 #GiveUsRosesWhileWereStillHere #TransRightsAreHumanRights #HonourTransAncestors #LkwungenTerritories Image Description: A cropped image by artist Kosmo X. Parker (@3thanxp) displays the text #BlackTransLivesMatter and on a banner, 'Give us our roses while we're still here.' At the top of the image a black city skyline can be seen in the foreground of a sky of roses. White, blue and pink butterflies fill a blue sky below, in front of an opening gate and a crowd holding a banner. A black person wearing a colourful, striped sweater holds a megaphone up, and their fist is raised in the air.

Thank you to the outstanding organizations in Victoria supporting survivors of violence.

Peers Victoria are giving gift bags out this week for their 4th Annual Holiday Gift Bag Drive, and they're continuing to accept donations! Please consider donating to this incredible local organization supporting current and former sex workers. From Peers: "Get together with members of your household to put together a few bags, or check out the following options if you're limiting in-person shopping this season:... - Downtown delivers (https://downtownvictoria.ca/downtown-delivers/): support local businesses this season by shopping online for gift bag items & getting them delivered for *free* to Peers Victoria during our drop-in hours! - Donate to Peers via our website (www.safersexwork.ca). You can include a note specifying that the donation is for the gift bag drive. We will shop & put together gift bags with your donation The three gift bag themes (avg budget: $30-$40): - Tasty (chocolate, jerky/pepperoni, hot chocolate, cereal, etc) - Cozy (blankets or pj's (size M-XL most common), shower/bath product, chocolate) - Warm (socks, gloves, hand warmers, disposable rain poncho, umbrella, chocolate) We accept drop-offs during our drop-in hours 11:30-2:30 Tuesday-Thursday at our office, 744 Fairview Rd!" www.safersexwork.ca

Today is the last day of the #16Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, however, the Victoria Sexual Assault Centre continue to work towards a world without gender-based violence every day. We are encouraged by this press release from the Parliamentary Secretary for Gender Equity and we look forward to the province's action plan to end gender-based violence and provision of core funding to sexual assault centre's across the province so we can sustain our important work. #EndGBV #SupportSurvivors

VSAC recognizes and supports the notion that housing is a human right. We provide support and further community referrals to survivors who are unhoused on Lkwungen territories. Unhoused communities here have continued to grow and we know well the impact that being unhoused can have on people who are healing from sexualized violence - from stigma to instability to ongoing violence. In particular, these impacts can be exacerbated by the further health risks and insecurity that ...government responses to the pandemic (or lack thereof) pose. Unhoused communities deserve care and respect from all members of the larger community, and state responses need to prioritize their health and safety, rather than create more barriers to their wellness and basic human rights. Take action by checking out the important work of several local organizations below, and consider how you might get involved to support unhoused survivors on these territories. - Together Against Poverty Society - Indigenous Harm Reduction Team - Greater Victoria Coalition to End Homelessness - Victoria Women's Transition House Poverty Kills based on Lkwungen Territories offers some great ways to get involved in taking action and contributing to street and unhoused communities in meaningful ways: https://povertykills2020.ca/get-involved/ [Image Description: An image cropped from the homepage banner at povertykills2020.ca displays four tents of various colours including green, yellow, gray and blue. Three are huddled together and one tent is behind them. They are all set atop grass and there are large trees and other foliage in the back ground. The sky pokes through the tree branches and appears to be cloudy, light blue. ] #16DaysofActivism #TakeAction #SupportUnhousedCommunities #SupportSurvivors #HousingIsAHumanRight #BelieveSurvivors #LkwungenTerritories

Tomorrow, November 20th, is Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDOR). This is a day to honour those Trans, Two-Spirit and Gender Non-conforming individuals who have died as a result of gender-based and racist violence, to recommit to ending Transantagonism and Transmisogyny, and to uplift and hold dear the Trans folks who are still here. Here are a few online vigils being held for TDOR so you can be held in your grief and show your support: - The Simon Fraser Students Union is ...hosting an online vigil on November 20th from 5-7pm: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/trans-day-of-remembrance-2020- tickets-127392090171 - Trans* Remembrance, History & Resilience hosted by the South Island Gender Variant Support Group - Zoom events from 5-8pm are included on this Facebook event page: https://www.facebook.com/events/5056469474395123

Being a newcomer on these territories can often be a tough experience filled with unexpected challenges and hardships, from language barriers to cultural misunderstandings to xenophobia and racism. VSAC recognizes these barriers that newcomer communities face, and we have witnessed how these challenges and hardships can deeply disrupt the healing of those who have experienced sexualized violence. Please consider supporting and advocating for communities of newcomers who deser...ve to be met with immense respect, understanding, and care. If you are a newcomer who has experienced sexualized and/or gender-based violence and your first language is not English, you can access several of our print resources in Spanish, French, Arabic, and Mandarin, here: https://vsac.ca/resources/ Below are several local organizations that support newcomers, including international students, immigrants and refugees. Visit their websites and resources if you are looking for support as a newcomer, or if you are wanting to take action. There are many opportunities to support folks, including sponsoring refugees, volunteering, and mentoring. - The Inter-Cultural Association of Greater Victoria - VIRCS (Victoria Immigrant and Refugee Resource Society) #16DaysofActivism #TakeAction #SupportNewcomers #LkwungenTerritories #BelieveSurvivors [Image Description: An image of a stack of books with a blue background shows the word ‘survivor’ in black text in Mandarin, Spanish, Arabic, French and English: , superviviente, , survivant(e), survivor.]

"We already know the answers; they come from listening. Now is the time to put into action with creativity and political intention the urgent stories about health and wellness that are embedded in the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada, the National Inquiry into Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women and Girls, the Viens Report, and more. Paying attention to all the calls for justice, including those that advocate substantive equality for Indigenous peoples in Canada today, that will be #JusticeforJoyce."

Suleenity Victoria has created these beautiful tote bags in support of the Victoria Sexual Assault Centre. They are donating 100% of the sales to the Centre. Check them out!

The M’ikmaq have the right to live free from violence. There are parallels between ongoing colonial violence to rob Indigenous people of their right to lands and resources and the violent dynamics of sexualized violence. This is about more than fishing rights. Systemic racism is at the root of the violence against Mi’kmaq fishers and also at the root of violence against Indigenous women, girls, and Two-Spirit people. It’s an attack on Indigenous autonomy, dignity, and sovereignty. #Mikmaqrights #IndigenousSovereignty

Thank you to these feminists and the many others not named here who continue the daily work of moving us toward justice and equity.

On Wednesday, September 30th, VSAC received important support and encouragement from MP Laurel Collins, who recognizes the importance of the work that is being done to develop and implement gender-based (GBV) and sexualized violence support and healing that is culturally grounded and community led. Although Laurel mis-identified the project that is doing this work, which has been carefully and meaningfully named knétl i isat, we are glad that this work is being highlighted in such a public way for other folks to hear about the great work that is happening in Coast Salish territory regarding decentralized responses to GBV for Indigenous people. We are deeply grateful to the Indigenous Elders, womxn, youth, 2Spirit folks, and sex workers who continue to guide this project. #LekwungenTerritory #CoastSalishTerritory

We want to acknowledge that today is the US election and many folks may be feeling anxious, fearful, hopeful, among other feelings. Remember to take care of each other and yourself. And remember to breathe. #breathein #breatheout #communitycare #believesurvivors #gentleness #Lekwungenterritories

For immediate sexual assault support and access to medical care through VSAC’s 24-Hour Sexual Assault Response Team (SART), please contact Vancouver Island Crisis Line at 1-888-494-3888 and ask for a VSAC sexual assault support worker. To access VSAC services including counselling, support groups and Victim Services, please call the Service Access Line 250-383-3232 (Monday- Friday 9:30-5) or email us at [email protected].

Today is Orange Shirt Day, a day to remember and honour Indigenous children who were sent to residential schools and to acknowledge the ways in which the schools contributed to genocide. At residential schools, Indigenous children were disconnected from culture and language and experienced physical, mental, and sexual abuse. Recognition of these atrocities is a step toward reconciliation and healing. It's also a day to reflect on actions we can take every day to end racism and dismantle the legacy of residential schools.

VSAC is hiring! We are seeking a counsellor to provide individual and group counselling to survivors of sexualized violence. If you are passionate about providing feminist, trauma-informed counselling support to survivors apply today! Deadline to apply is Monday October 12th at 9pm. https://vsac.ca/careers/

The pandemic exacerbated and deepened existing gender inequalities for women, Trans, Two-Spirit and Gender Diverse people. We need to #resetnormal with a gender-based pandemic recovery plan. Check out this video from Canadian Women's Foundation to learn more and to take action for a more equitable future. #EndGBV #COVID19 #GenderEquality

We're hiring for the position of Project Respect Program Coordinator. Are you a violence prevention educator? Do you want to work with youth to create social action projects? Check out our job posting! Deadline for application is October 6, 2020 https://vsac.ca/careers/

It’s #GenderEqualityWeek. However, gender equality must be a principle we work towards every day. 1 in 3 women and 1 in 2 Trans folks experience sexual assault in their lifetimes. Indigenous women and Two-Spirit folks continue to be murdered and made missing and Black women continue to be targeted for violence. Our work in healing, education and prevention is a daily commitment. We have come a long way but there is much road still to travel in tackling misogyny, especially where sexism interconnects with racism and other forms of discrimination. As Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. said "no one is free until we are all free."

On this day last year, Stream of Consciousness gifted us with a lived streamed event. This enabled us to share a presentation from our Project Respect youth team and a discussion about our work in supporting survivors to a broad audience online. Check out the replay on the Stream of Consciousness website: https://streamofconsciousness.ca/2020-vision-vsac-live/

Are you looking for ways you can support survivors? Join our team of passionate and compassionate Sexual Assault Response Team volunteers! Applications to join our Sexual Assault Response Team Support Worker training are open until August 19th. Support Worker Volunteers offer support and information to recent survivors of sexual assault (all genders, age 13+) over the phone, or in-person at our Clinic, Victoria General Hospital, or the various police stations. Safety protoc...ols have been put in place to promote physical distancing and other COVID-19 prevention measures for both training and volunteering at VSAC. For more information and to apply: http://bttr.im/tkkmg [Image Description: The background shows plants and part of the reception counter in the Victoria Sexual Assault Clinic. The bright green of the plant leaves, a red planter, and brochures for the Clinic stand out. A slightly transparent text box overtop reads: Volunteer Opportunity! Applications are now open for the Sexual Assault Response Team Support Worker Training. Do you want to support recent survivors of sexual assault in our community? Do you want to participate in a 3-month support and communications training? Are you available to commit to this volunteer position for the next year?]

Applications to join our Sexual Assault Response Team Support Worker training are open from July 29th August 19th. Support Worker Volunteers offer support and information to recent survivors of sexual assault (all genders, age 13+) over the phone, or in-person at our Clinic, Victoria General Hospital, or the various police stations. Safety protocols have been put in place to promote physical distancing and other COVID-19 prevention measures for both training and volunteerin...g at VSAC. Join our team of passionate and compassionate volunteers who are dedicated to making our community safer and more supportive! For more information and to apply: http://bttr.im/tkkmg [Image Description: The background shows plants and part of the reception counter in the Victoria Sexual Assault Clinic. The bright green of the plant leaves, a red planter, and brochures for the Clinic stand out. A slightly transparent text box overtop reads: Volunteer Opportunity! Applications are now open for the Sexual Assault Response Team Support Worker Training. Do you want to support recent survivors of sexual assault in our community? Do you want to participate in a 3-month support and communications training? Are you available to commit to this volunteer position for the next year?]

VSAC's Prevention program, Project Respect - VSAC, has partnered with Girls and Femmes with Afro-textured Hair Group to develop workshops for Black youth about consent, gender, and bystander intervention, and we want your help! We are looking for 5-8 Black high school-aged youth to join a steering committee to help with this process. Interested in participating? Email Amara at [email protected] to sign up.... [Image Description: Poster with yellow background with lighter yellow, teal, and orange bubbles and clusters of white dots. Text reads: Girls and Femmes with Afro-Textured Hair and Project Respect invite you to. . .help us create workshops! We are working together to build workshops about consent, gender, and bystander intervention, and we want your help! If you are a Black youth in grade 9-12 of any gender and you are interested, contact us! The Details: -3 online meetings between August and September. -$50 honourarium per meeting. -Great on your resume or for community hours. -Only 5 spots available! Contact Amara to sign up: [email protected]] https://vsac.ca/2020/07/leadership-opportunity/

As survivors bravely speak out about sexualized violence in the tattoo industry it's critical that industry leaders take steps to shift to a culture of consent and support survivor's healing. Thank you to Tattoo Zoo for standing up for survivors and fundraising in support of the Victoria Sexual Assault Centre. Check out all the awesome prizes up for raffle! Proceeds will support VSAC's services for survivors and prevention education.

Happy Pride Week from all of us at VSAC! All of Pride Week's events have gone virtual to honour social distancing guidelines. Be sure to check out Victoria Youth Pride Week starting Sunday, July 5 2020. https://victoriapridesociety.org/events/ https://www.facebook.com/events/265580004706057/

Today is National Indigenous Peoples Day. It is a day to celebrate Indigenous people and the rich cultures and history of Turtle Island. It is also an opportunity for settlers to take action to decolonize our practices and ways of being and to honour the resistance and resilience of Indigenous people to ongoing colonization and state violence. We honour the Lkwungen and WSANEC Peoples on whose land we work to end gender-based violence and recognize colonialism as a root cau...se of sexualized violence and its continued impact on people’s ability to heal. June is also Indigenous History Month. This month there has been brutal violence and multiple murders of Indigenous people by police. Now is past the time for the government and Canadians to acknowledge that racism is entrenched in this country, and in the RCMP, and to take action to end systemic racism, discrimination, and violence against Indigenous people. [Image description: White text that reads "Indigenous People’s Day on a deep red background. There are two rows of short vertical lines in beige, one row on the top right hand of the image and one on the bottom left.] #indigenouspeoplesday #indigenoushistorymonth

Much of our work at VSAC centering the healing of survivors is also about grief. There is immense collective and individual grief that comes out of experiencing sexualized violence- but we cannot address this grief without honouring the compounded traumatic and collective grief of systemic racism. In this blog post we honour Chantal Moore, a 26 year old Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation woman who was killed by police, and hold space for the grief that arises from systemic injustice and racism. A healing gathering for Chantal Moore will be held tomorrow at the legislature building.

This is Nancy, an incredible VSAC board member and triathlete who is fundraising for our Centre. She is competing in the virtual Triathlon of Compassion this weekend and raising important funds for sexual assault services. If you're looking for a way to support survivors, please consider donating to Nancy's campaign: https://www.canadahelps.org/me/nYp9uXR Thank you, Nancy, for your fundraising efforts!