LAKELAND – May is sexual violence awareness month (SVAM), and the Dragonfly Centre, Bonnyville’s sexual violence support service, has been working to create awareness around the topic over the past few weeks.
The Dragonfly Centre is one of 15 sexual assault centres in Alberta and serves over 109,000 people in the region. Within their vast service area of over 65,000 km2, they aimed to have an activity or initiative in each large centre or community.
Events include the continuation of their FRIES campaign (an acronym for Freely Given, Revocable, Informed, Enthusiastic, Specific), which aims to educate people about consent.
“We say consent is as easy as FRIES,” says Jessie Heisler, education programmer.
The Dragonfly Centre has been partnering with restaurants for the FRIES campaign, providing activity placemats and tent cards for dining tables.
“To date, we have participating restaurants selling FRIES in Bonnyville, Athabasca, Lac La Biche, and Cold Lake who have graciously stepped up to help educate patrons with every plate served with FRIES,” says communications person Amber Cook.
The campaign’s tent cards are complete with a QR code leading to the Dragonfly Centre website, which has a consent quiz.
Further events during SVAM include the Teal Ribbon Awareness & Fundraising Campaign where people can wear a teal ribbon in support of survivors of sexual violence.
Ashley Robson, youth education coordinator and this year's organizer of the SVAM initiatives, says, "Ribbons can be found at local pharmacies, supportive businesses and our local partnering agencies in Bonnyville, Athabasca, Cold Lake, Lac La Biche. They can be purchased by donation similar to the Poppy Campaign.”
Stores in the region have also been showcasing awareness booths, hosting book readings at local libraries, and the Town of Bonnyville also hung a banner on main street for the month of May.
