‘You will save a life’: Edmonton sexual assault centre launches campaign to support survivors

The Sexual Assault Centre of Edmonton has launched a fundraising campaign to help deal with growing demand for support from survivors.

The Sexual Assault Centre of Edmonton (SACE) is putting the spotlight on survivors who have been waiting for critical support to mark Sexual Violence Awareness Month.

The centre installed hundreds of teddy bears for its new campaign “Out in the Open” Monday afternoon.

Each bear is tied with a teal ribbon, aimed at representing survivors currently waiting for access to trauma-informed services.

“There are so many people who have experienced sexual violence in our city and some of those people are as young as three years old, and the sexual assault centre of Edmonton is here to support people of all ages,” said Co-CEO Lena Betker.

This campaign is in an effort to bring awareness around sexual violence, which is an issue that’s often shrouded in shame and blame.

“They shouldn’t be ashamed of what they’ve gone through,” Betker added. “The bears are really meant to have that visual impact of showing that these are real people behind the numbers. These are real people who have experienced trauma and they deserve support and shouldn’t have to wait for it.”

Nearly half of all Albertans experience sexual violence in their lifetime, SACE said in a release. “Out in the Open” is highlighting both the scale of the need and the growing gap between survivors seeking support and the resources available to respond.

SACE provides support and a voice for those who experience it, like Neil Campbell, who was sexually abused when he was nine years old and attributes the organization for saving his life.

“For years, I didn’t know how to speak about it. It wasn’t until I was around 37 years old that I was able to confront the demons, to talk about all the trauma, all the pain, all the challenges, and they allowed me to feel free,” said Campbell.

“They actually brought that boy back to life that died so many years ago.”

The centre believes people would find it surprising to know how many police-reported sexual assaults happen in the city on a yearly basis. Edmonton consistently has one of the highest rates in the country.

“We are, year after year, either number one or number two,” said Betker. “Alberta-wide, we know that one-in-two people will experience sexual violence in their lifetime, and that’s two-in-three women, one-in-three men and one-in-three children.”

The “Out in the Open” campaign runs all of May and into June. The teddy bears are available to purchase for $50 or people can sponsor a bear for the same price to be donated back to the centre’s counselling program and given to a child or adult using their services.

Campbell hopes this installation will inspire others.

“These children did not ask for this to happen to them. We owe it to them to help them, support them and believe them. Having something as warm and cuddly as a teddy bear makes me think of safety, because I felt warm and cuddly when I was here many years ago.”

“You will save a life. You may not see it, you may not understand the impact that you’re having, but you will save a life.”

More information on the campaign can be found online.