Welcome to SSAIC’s August 2021 Newsletter. Once a month, we bring you news, updates, skills, and opportunities relating to the world of sexualized violence. As subscribers, you won’t miss a beat about what’s happening at SSAIC.

COVID-19 Updates

As Saskatchewan moved to lift its COVID-19 restrictions on July 11th, we wish to advise that our service restrictions will remain in place for a while longer.

In order to keep our staff and clients safe in light of the more transmissible Delta variant circulating in our community, we will continue to operate under the current restrictions:

Masking
Physically distancing
Sanitization & temperature protocols
Primarily utilizing telephone counselling
Keeping our main office closed to the public

The majority of our counselling will continue to be provided over the telephone unless we assess that clients can not access service using that technology, or require some initial face-to-face support. SSAIC will remain closed to walk-in support at this time.

We are taking new clients and would encourage those who need our assistance to call our office during office hours and speak to one of our counsellors. Our 24-hour crisis line is fully functional and available to assist anyone who needs our help.

We have expanded our services to include more online resources for survivors. Please check out our Survivors Toolkit for additional resources and videos.

What’s New at SSAIC

Trauma-Informed Virtual Yoga

We are so excited to be bringing back our popular Trauma-Informed Virtual Yoga for survivors of sexualized violence!

Join our counsellor and certified yoga teacher Steph for 8 weeks of mindful connection between the mind and body from the comfort of your own home. No previous yoga experience is required; we’ll guide you through everything you need to know.

Give our office a call at 306-244-2294 to register!

Grounding Video Series

We are presenting 5 guided grounding practices with our newest project – SSAIC’s Grounding Video Series. Our first 3 videos have already been posted to our social media, and the others will arrive soon! Access these on Facebook or Instagram (@SSAIC1) to help calm your mind and center yourself back into your body.

Thank-You

Sending out a huge thank-you to the 25th Street Theatre for hosting us at this year’s Saskatoon Fringe Festival! We had a great time and sincerely appreciated chatting with all the folx who stopped by our booth. If you missed us and still want to purchase some merchandise, you can shop on our website here.

Website Updates

Allow us to introduce ourselves! We are in the process of adding staff bios to our website, so keep an eye out for them here to “meet” our lovely team at SSAIC!

Learning & Entertainment

Supporting Survivors of Sexualized Violence Training

Supporting Survivors of Sexualized Violence Training (SST) is an interactive training program created by SSAIC, designed to train anyone and everyone to receive disclosures and support survivors in a compassionate and trauma-informed way.

Join us for an upcoming session of SST to learn tangible skills for supporting someone who discloses sexualized violence, as well as the impacts of rape culture and our own unconscious biases.

Click on any of the following links to register yourself for SST:

Half Day Training ($60):

October 6th, 2021 (1:00pm – 4:00pm)

Full Day Training ($150):

November 23rd, 2021 (9:00am – 4:00pm)

Impacts of COVID-19 on Survivors (watch now!)

COVID-19 has had unprecedented impacts on the whole world, but how has it impacted survivors of sexualized violence specifically? Co-presenting this webinar is Megan Sawyer, SSAIC’s Client Services Coordinator and counsellor to survivors. Watch the recording of our presentation below. Click here to make a donation.

Join Morgan Price (Education & Outreach Coordinator) and Megan Sawyer (Client Services Director) from SSAIC as they discuss the various risks, impacts, and barriers to reporting survivors of sexualized violence experience due to COVID-19.

SSAIC Staff Recommends

Check out some trending media that our staff are loving relating to sexualized violence, self-care, reconciliation, and more!

The book Recipes for Self-Love by Alison Rachel, “delivers powerful lessons in self-care, intersectional feminism, body image, consumerism, and holding your own in a patriarchal society.” Alison Rachel’s work provides beautiful images of diverse people with great small essays. I enjoy using resources in my work that speak to me on a personal level, and I’ve used excerpts from this book in group work and individual sessions. I use them as talking points, especially when addressing things such as rape myths and untrue media that women, non-binary, and transfeminine people are exposed to all the time. These are messages that encourage us to use our voices to speak our truth and normalize asking for help and setting boundaries for self-care. You can also check out its sister Instagram account @recipesforselflove! -Sarah

@metoomanyvoices on Instagram is a peer-support and survivor-focused account that posts really survivor-centered content that’s honest and realistic. One of the first online-based support communities, Me Too Many Voices was founded by Lauren Weingarten, a Credentialed Victim Advocate and Trauma Educator, and I just love their content! -Morgan

The book Milk and Honey by Rupi Kaur is intensely deep, dripping in emotion and inspiration. The delicate line drawings that accompany the poems bring a softness to words that bring the experience of hurting, loving, breaking, and healing to life. Milk and Honey is an easy read when you want to take a moment to disconnect from the world around you and pause to connect with yourself. If you have ever experienced pain, this book brings hope. This book does touch on themes about abuse/violence, so while it may be an inspiring read, it may also be triggering for some survivors. –Steph

Sexualized Violence in the News

Military won’t ask RCMP to investigate sexual assault claim involving senior commander, CBC News

A request for RCMP to investigate the allegation that Vice-Admiral Haydn Edmundson sexually assaulted a 19-year old steward in 1991 has been turned down. This goes against a key recommendation of retired Supreme Court Justice Morris Fish’s report urging sweeping changes to the military’s judicial system. Despite the report’s release in May, the military confirms it has yet to hand over a single sexual misconduct investigation to civilian police. Read more…

Judge hearing details of sex assault allegations against rural priest at prelim in Humboldt, CBC News

A provincial court judge in Humboldt, Sask. heard evidence against a local Catholic priest charged with sexual assault, sexual exploitation, and sexual interference. Sexual interference is a charge laid when the alleged victim is under the age of 16. Father Anthony Atter was the priest responsible for three Saskatchewan parishes: St. Gregory in Saint Gregor, St. Ann in Annaheim, and St. Anthony in Lake Lenore, but he was removed from the ministry after the Catholic Diocese of Saskatoon learned of the charges. Police have said multiple assaults allegedly took place from September to November 2020. Read more…

Member of The Dead South accused of sexual misconduct returns to group, CBC News

Regina band The Dead South is reuniting with its cello player, who faced multiple allegations of sexual misconduct in 2020. The band’s website features a statement from the group, welcoming their former bandmate back and calling the past year “a time of reflection and learning.” One of the women who first came forward alleging inappropriate sexual behaviour told CBC, “I don’t think reflection is enough when it comes to something as serious as this.” Responding to the news that the reunited band will soon be touring together again, she said, “It says that we don’t matter. It says that we deserve it. It says that I deserved it.” Read more…

Ways to Give to SSAIC

Looking for ways to give to SSAIC? Click any of the options below to get started!

Become a recurring donor. This is the most helpful kind of donation we can receive, as it helps us consistently plan for the future with reliable donations monthly or annually. All donations are greatly appreciated.
Bring your recyclables to SARCAN. By using the code “I believe you” at the Drop-n-Go stations or at the register, you can donate your recycling funds straight to SSAIC and protect the environment all at once!
Shop our survivor-themed merchandise. Our online store is stocked with survivor phrase t-shirts, sweatshirts, and mugs – order yours straight to your door, or come by our office downtown for contactless pickup.
Fundraise on our behalf. COVID-19 has impacted us all, and SSAIC is relying on our community supporters now more than ever. If you’re interested in raising money on our behalf, get in contact with our office to discuss opportunities!