Let the Truth Talk Bow Valley Harmony Project

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