Sexual Violence Awareness Month (SVAM)

May marks Sexual Violence Awareness Month (SVAM). SVAM is an opportunity for campus community members to spark important conversations about sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) and foster a community of support. 

Let's spark important conversations, raise awareness, and foster a community of support. Together, we can create a campus culture of respect, safety, empowerment, and consent - mark your calendars this May!

SVAM Spotlight - Save the Dates & Engage

SVAM 2025: SAVE THE DATES
Please see below for a list of SVPRO (co)-initiatives taking place this month for SVAM – we've also attached programming graphics to this email, and encourage you to share and circulate widely.

RED DRESS REFLECTIONS - TRANSFORMING TOMORROW
May 5, 2025 (NEXT MONDAY)
10:30AM-1:30PM
BMH Green | EXP 1686, Applied Health Sciences Expansion Building
Register here

Join the Office of Indigenous Relations and the Sexual Violence Prevention and Response Office on May 5th for Red Dress Day, a National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two-Spirit People.

Elder Myeengun Henry will begin the day with a sacred fire beginning at 10:30AM on the BMH Green, where we will hang red dresses to symbolize those who are missing and murdered, inspired by Jaime Black's REDress Project. 

Following the ceremony, we will move to the Applied Sciences Expansion Building EXP 1686 where we will hear from Ojibway/Mohawk guest speaker Cher Obediah. Cher will also be showing her short film Beautiful Disaster, addressing the ongoing crisis and the importance of collective action and offer a talk: Red Dress Reflections - Transforming Tomorrow.

Program *all times approximate
10:30AM | Sacred Fire (BMH Green)
11:30AM | Hanging Red Dresses (Dresses Provided)
11:45AM | Move to EXP 1686, Applied Health Sciences Expansion Building
12:00PM | Beautiful Disaster Film Screening and Red Dress Reflections with Cher Obediah
1:00PM | Q&A with Cher Obediah
1:30PM | Event Ends

BEHIND THE SCREEN: CONVERSATIONS ON ADOLESCENCE - VIRTUAL SERIES
Every Thursday in May (May 8, May 15, May 22, and May 29)
12-1PM

Registration
May 8 – Register here
May 15 – Register here
May 22 – Register here
May 29 – Register here

About: We’re launching a new initiative in line with the hype of Netflix's Adolescence, a psychological crime drama that explores themes of masculinity, youth, social media, violence, and the criminal justice system. This four-part series (every Thursday in May) will provide an opportunity for us to gather and unpack each episode, with guided conversations on the show's powerful themes around relationships, boundaries, gender, consent, and growing up. This discussion series offers a brave, welcoming space to reflect on the show’s messages and connect them to real-life experiences. Whether you’ve already seen the show, or are watching it for the first time, we invite you to come with curiosity, compassion, and a willingness to learn.

Drop in for one session or join us for the whole series - each episode offers a new opportunity to talk, reflect, and grow - open to everyone, students, staff, and faculty. 

TECH-FACILITATED GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE: UNDERSTANDING DIGITAL ABUSE - VIRTUAL WORKSHOP
May 28
12-1PM
Register here

About: This workshop seeks to build understanding around how tech-facilitated gender-based violence happens in modern society, as well as smart practices to support prevention. You will learn what characterizes technology-facilitated gender-based violence, its types, prevalence, and solutions - the workshop emphasizes the Canadian context. This virtual workshop is open to staff, faculty, and students.

BYSTANDER INTERVENTION TRAINING FOR STAFF & FACULTY - VIRTUAL TRAINING
May 12
1-2:30PM
Register here

About: A virtual training designed to educate staff and faculty on sexual violence and equip campus community members with relevant knowledge and skills to intervene in a situation of harm, including sexual violence (and/or racism, homophobia, transphobia, harassment, and microaggressions), or where harm is imminent. Active bystander intervention can prevent harm, stop harm, and provide space(s) for support - it works to build a culture of consent and reinforce care, belonging, equity, and well-being within our campus community. This workshop is open to staff and faculty. 

RESPONDING TO DISCLOSURES OF SEXUAL VIOLENCE - STUDENTS - VIRTUAL TRAINING
May 26
11AM-1PM
Register here

About: This will be a virtual session that dives into concepts and skills around sexual and gender-based violence. We will go through scenarios and discuss best-practice around responding to a disclosure of sexual and gender-based violence.

VIRTUAL LUNCH & LEARN: TALKING TO CHILDREN ABOUT CONSENT
May 27
12-1PM
Register here

About: This virtual Lunch & Learn will discuss and answer questions about the importance of talking to young children about consent, setting boundaries, and using the proper names for body parts to help build a culture of respect and consent. Although the session specifically focusses on young children, many of the ideas and suggestions are transferrable to older children. Resources and slides provided. This virtual workshop is open to staff and faculty. 

We all have a role to play in raising awareness and preventing sexual and gender-based violence - in our everyday lives and beyond. Together, let’s build a campus culture characterized by respect, care, support, empowerment, and consent. Mark your calendars this May - we look forward to engaging with you!

For all SVAM-related inquiries, please contact Chris Martin.