April 2021 Newsletter
COVID-19 Updates
SSAIC is open! We are currently serving clients of sexualized violence over the telephone only and proving public education virtually. Due to the increase of COVID-19 cases in Saskatchewan, SSAIC is closed to walk-ins and in-person counselling 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
50/50 Online Raffle – Winner Announced!
Our second annual 50/50 Online Raffle was a huge success! Exceeding our goal of $4,000, our community and supporters continued to encourage our work and help us provide free services to survivors of sexualized violence and their loved ones.
Congratulations to Jan Gelech, the winner of our $5,610 pot, who took home $2,805! You can view our Facebook Live draw here. Once again, thank-you to each and every person who purchased tickets, and we wish you luck on the next one.
“I’m the Boss of Me” Wrap-Up
ITBOM is SSAIC’s child sexual abuse prevention and education program for Grade 4 students that utilizes a combination of lesson plans and a live puppet show to teach students about sexual abuse. Reflecting on this season of “I’m the Boss of Me”, SSAIC is incredibly proud of how this project has grown and adapted since its inception. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, we were successful in safely moving our program to virtual delivery to complete our 15th season.
- We presented to 126 classrooms, our most successful season to date.
- We were able to reach 2,885 children in our ten weeks of shows.
- We operated with a dedicated team of 7 volunteer facilitators, one part-time program assistant, and one full-time program coordinator.
- We have now presented our puppet show to over 31,000 Grade 4 students since 2007.
Thank-you so much to each and every teacher that hosted our virtual show, as well as our volunteer facilitators for dedicating their time and energy to another successful season.
Sexual Assault Awareness Week
Saskatchewan recognizes SAAW annually during the week of May 17th – 21st. This year, SSAIC will be focusing on raising awareness about child sexual abuse and exploitation. We are so excited to host a keynote presentation from the Canadian Centre of Child Protection entitled “Protecting Children from Exploitation: Supporting Survivors and Their Families” – click the link to register for this webinar. Subscribe to our social media pages to see our entire campaign, and be sure to share our posts to spread awareness about child sexual abuse in our communities.
Learning & Entertainment
Supporting Survivors of Sexualized Violence Training
Our next full-day SST offering is coming up on May 20th, and seats are selling out fast! Join us for this interactive training to learn tangible skills for supporting someone who discloses sexualized violence. This training is fantastic for new social workers, teachers, and other professionals, as well as seasoned pros that want to add tools to their repertoire.
Register today or view other available dates and times through our website.
Spring Learning Workshop Series
Each season, we bring new and exciting webinars related to sexualized violence to supporters and survivors alike. Our webinars are aimed at any and everyone from professionals to the general public with a thirst to learn. Join us live through Zoom, or register and watch later. Check out our spring offerings below; click the title to register!
Demystifying the Reporting Process of Sexualized Violence – May 26th @ 1:30pm – 2:30pm
How long can a survivor wait to report a sexually violent experience? Do survivors have to pay for a lawyer? What percentage of perpetrators actually get convicted? Learn the answers to these questions (and many more) from our Education & Outreach Coordinator, Morgan Price. Suitable for professionals, support people, and survivors alike.
Newcomers Navigating Sexualized Violence in Saskatchewan – June 15th @ 1:30pm – 3:30pm
With one of the highest rates of sexualized violence across the Canadian provinces, Saskatchewan support services must do a better job in supporting the newcomer population in our community. Culture shock, support networks, and barriers to accessing services will be discussed by our friends at the Saskatoon Open Door Society. All community members interested in learning are welcome!
SSAIC Staff Recommends
Check out some trending media that our staff are loving relating to sexualized violence, self-care, reconciliation, and more!
Nanette, Hannah Gadsby’s Netflix stand-up special from 2018 . Dealing openly with homophobia, sexism, mental health and sexual violence, Nanette is brilliantly written and emotionally raw. Gadsby utilizes comedy in new and groundbreaking ways, inviting the viewer to look at society and themselves in ways that are uncomfortable, painful and encourage growth in the viewer. -Megan
“Know My Name”, a memoir by Chanel Miller. Famously known only as “Emily Doe” or “the unconscious woman”, Chanel was the survivor in the highly publicized 2015 Brock Turner / Stanford University case. In 2016, her victim impact statement touched people around the world (read it here). It was the most eloquent, touching and powerful piece of writing by a survivor I had ever read; I shared it with everyone I knew. Her memoir is a wonderful read and provides real insight into the experience of a survivor whose experiences, thoughts, and impacts are universally shared by the many survivors we support at the Centre. In addition, Chanel is an amazing writer! She has a unique skill of saying things simply while also transporting the reader into her experience in a way that isn’t gratuitous or voyeuristic. – Faye
@makedaisychains on Instagram by Hannah Daisy. Hannah creates content from a queer, pro-mental health perspective. I really love the series she does on “Boring Self Care”; it’s great for normalizing every day mental health struggles. – Sarah
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 fully stocked with plenty of our 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!
Join us on Social Media
@SSAIC1 on Facebook and Instagram