November 2022 Newsletter
Welcome to SSAIC’s November 2022 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.
SSAIC acknowledges that we work and live on Treaty 6 Territory and the Homeland of the Métis. We commit to working towards reconciliation and affirm our relationship with one another.
We appreciate the cooperation our clients have consistently displayed as we have worked through interruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. As we continue to move toward a full reopening, we are taking new clients and would encourage those who need our assistance to call our office at 306-244-2294 during office hours (M-F 9 AM-12 PM / 1 PM-5 PM) and speak to one of our counsellors. Our 24-hour crisis line is always available to assist anyone who needs our help.
What’s New at SSAIC
National Inuit Day
November 7th was National Inuit Day, a day to celebrate and give voice to Inuit peoples on Turtle Island.
The majority of the Inuit population lives in 51 communities spread across Inuit Nunangat, the Inuit homeland encompassing 35% of Canada’s landmass and 50% of its coastline.
Canadian Inuit are relatively young, with a median age of just 23. Traditional values such as sharing, respect for elders, and cooperation remain central to Inuit community life.
Despite the beauty and resilience of the Inuit people, too many struggle with extremely high rates of violence and trauma. These challenges exist against the historical backdrop of Canada’s colonization of Inuit Nunangat.
To learn more about the richness and history of Inuit culture, visit www.itk.ca.
Trans Awareness Week
Last week, SSAIC celebrated all of our trans survivors and community members!
Each year, people and organizations around the country participate in Transgender Awareness Week to help raise visibility of transgender people and address issues members of the community face.
Through our lens, trans folks are extremely vulnerable to experiencing sexualized violence; almost half of all trans people in Canada self-identify as survivors of sexual assault.
SSAIC is proud to support trans survivors of sexualized violence through our individual and group counselling services, and we are committed to continued learning with our partners at OUTSaskatoon.
Self-referrals are welcome. Call 306-244-2294 or intake@ssaic.ca to book an appointment.
New Blog Post!
SSAIC’s client services team is quite the group – want to get to know them a bit better??
Engaging in counselling at SSAIC is guaranteed to be client-centered and trauma-informed, but each of our counsellors put their own little twist on their practice.
Having a diverse team allows us to ensure we are finding a unique fit for each of our clients, because we know how important the client-counsellor relationship can be!
Check out our newest blog post, “What Counselling Looks Like at SSAIC”, at ssaic.ca/blog, and be sure to subscribe to our mailing list so you don’t miss a thing.
“No is a Full Sentence” in the News
Did you catch Morgan in the news again?
Morgan, our Education and Outreach Coordinator, once again did a phenomenal job on Wednesday’s CTV Morning show, talking about our “No is a Full Sentence” Grade 8 Sexualized Violence Education and Prevention Program.
Catch the interview with Morgan and Alex Brown here.
Learning & Entertainment
Supporting Survivors of Sexualized Violence Training
Supporting Survivors of Sexualized Violence Training (SST) is an interactive virtual 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.
*Only 1 remaining training date in 2022!
December 8th, 2022 (9am – 4pm)
Deconstructing Rape Culture
Our final Fall Learning Workshop is just around the corner; are you registered yet for this brand new webinar?
On November 30th, we’ll be deep-diving into the roots of SV with “Deconstructing Rape Culture”.
Covering everything from what is rape culture, how did we get to this point where rape culture is the norm, and what in world we’re doing to unpack it, you won’t want to miss this one.
Find all the details and registration information at ssaic.ca/OLWS or click the link in our bio.
(Psst…all of our OLWS are recorded for you to watch later, so make sure you register to receive the recording to your inbox!)
Educational Presentations Available
SSAIC’s Education Team has many presentations available to the public on a variety of topics related to sexualized violence. Our presentations are a good fit for client groups, staff in-services, professional development opportunities, and post-secondary students. Any of the following are available upon request:
- Understanding Sexualized Violence: Our 101 Course
- Consent 101
- Child Sexual Abuse Information Seminar
- Being a Strong Ally to Survivors
- Exploring the Impacts of Sexualized Violence
- SSAIC’s Services
- Deconstructing Rape Culture
- Demystifying the Reporting Process of Sexualized Violence
Contact us at info@ssaic.ca to inquire about a presentation for your group!
(Limited capacity available.)
… Introducing our Office FUR-sistants
Who loves their pets (or wishes they had more pets to love)? We do!
In fact, we love them so much that we think it’s about time we introduce them to you.
Murphy is Jen’s very silly and dramatic spaniel (aren’t they all?)
At 12 1/2, he’s still super energetic and zoomy, has pretty terrible manners and no respect for others’ personal boundaries. He’s bossy and unapologetically annoying, but he’s also somehow the sweetest, most loveable guy.
Murphy has a decent repertoire of tricks but he won’t show you if you don’t have treats. His favourite things are food, anything that resembles food, attention (both positive and negative), swimming, and his teenaged human best friend. His least favourite things include rules, nail trims, wearing clothes, and kitchen dance parties.
To his family, Murphy is the absolute best. He makes them laugh constantly and they really do love him more every single day.
Sexualized Violence in the News
Saskatoon Police Service warns public of increase in online child ‘sextortion’, Global News
The Saskatchewan Internet Child Exploitation Unit has issued a warning after receiving dozens of reports of ‘sextortion’ incidents involving children in the last month.
Police say offenders are commonly reaching out to teenage males on social media chat platforms, posing as a young girl of similar age to the victim. Read more…
Can early intervention help raise better boys? Broadview Magazine
Morris Green, A Nova Scotia based educator created a program geared towards grade 7 and 9 boys called ‘Guys Work’. The program focuses on curbing toxic masculinity before it takes root. Read more…
In support of Amber Heard: Dozens of feminist organizations sign open letter, Global News
Five months after the Johnny Depp v. Amber Heard trial, more than 130 organizations and individuals have signed an open letter in support of Heard. Numerous doctors, lawyers and academics also independently signed, including author and activities Gloria Steinem.
The letter (read in full here) referenced the ‘vilification’ of Heard and her supporters as a phenomenon that has ‘been unprecedented in both vitriol and scale.’ ‘In our opinion, the Depp v. Heard verdict and continued discourse around it indicate a fundamental misunderstanding of intimate partner and sexual violence and how survivors respond to it,’ the letter reads. Read more…
#MeToo 5 years later: What’s changed and what hasn’t, CBC News
Advocates working to end sexualized violence say there’s still much work to be done. Five years after it started, the ‘Me Too’ movement has left no industry untouched by allegations of sexual misconduct that emerged as women began to speak up about their experiences. Read more…
Ontario government proposes bill to ban NDAs between perpetrators and institution, The Varsity.
The Ontario provincial government introduced a bill that would prohibit universities from signing non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) with staff and professors found to have sexually harassed or assaulted students and allow universities to fire perpetrators without severance pay. Read more…
Ways to Give to SSAIC
Looking for ways to give to SSAIC? Click any of the options below to get started!
- Becoming 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!