Now in its eighth year, the We Stand With Survivors (WSWS) campaign has grown into a powerful symbol of support and solidarity for survivors of sexual abuse and assault throughout Renfrew County and beyond.
The campaign began in 2017 when the Women’s Sexual Assault Centre of Renfrew County (WSAC) received a three-year project grant from Status of Women Canada. Rooted in a deep commitment to supporting survivors, the initiative was designed to develop a rural model of support specifically tailored to the needs of women in Renfrew County who have experienced sexual violence.
Kim Charlebois, Project Co-ordinator with the Women’s Sexual Assault Centre of Renfrew County says that the moment she came onboard in her role she was made aware of the most important aspect of what she needed to focus on:
Although the issue of violence against women has come a very long way in recent years, there is still an underlying stigma against coming forward which Charlebois says has a great deal to do with living in smaller communities where anonymity is harder to maintain:
Today, seven communities in Ontario—Pembroke, Petawawa, Eganville, Barry’s Bay, Renfrew, Arnprior, and Chalk River—proudly display street banners and electronic signs in a visible show of support for the campaign.
Harkening back to Charloebois’ mandate of awareness creation, the question became how to best get the word out about the campaign and it was decided that banners prominently displayed in participating towns and cities was the best course of action:
The campaign began back in 2018 when Eganville came on board as the first community to become involved by hanging a banner as well as 130 local business who were asked to put posters up creating further awareness. Currently eight municipalities in Ontario are involved in the program and Charlebois aims to increase that number as the years go on.
The WSAC has been an Ontario based organization since its inception but last year Charlebois tells us that several other Provinces in the country became involved which was a very exciting expansion for the program.
This year B.C, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Quebec have all joined in on the campaign and talks with P.E.I should mean their involvement comes to fruition later this year.
Keep an eye out for the banners in your community as this years campaign rolls on across the country. If you are a survivor of sexual abuse or assault and need support, please call 1-800-663-3060.
(Written By: Richard Evans)