SlutWalk Toronto’s momentum continues in Calgary with local support

SlutWalk  Calgary (a satellite organization of SlutWalk Toronto) is pleased to announce  the official SlutWalk Calgary event will take place on Saturday June 11, 2011  with support from their radio media sponsor, CJAY 92, and community partner,  CCASA.

"This  needs to happen in this city," said Gerry Forbes of CJAY 92’s Forbes and  Friends Morning Show. Forbes, a community advocate and philanthropist, came on  board as an early supporter. "It is time we bring attention to sexual assault  issues that are otherwise not discussed. There are people with stories that  need to be told and this will be a platform to initiate these discussions."

SlutWalk  Calgary is thrilled to have CJAY 92 as a sponsor, and to partner with CCASA,       the primary sexual assault and sexual abuse crisis and  education service provider for Calgary and surrounding areas   .   With overwhelming  community support via social media and email, the SlutWalk Calgary organization  is now looking for support to secure a location for this awareness event.

"As  we approach finding a location we are hopeful for the support of the City of  Calgary and the Calgary Police Service," said Nicole Brady, Event Organizer.  "The truth is that victims of sexual assault are citizens of Calgary. For us,  this is not so much about what one police officer said in Toronto, as it is a  societal reaction in response to why victims are commonly blamed for sexual  assault. Locally, we have an opportunity to express our concerns about this  rape myth and to act as proponents of change."

Brady  spearheaded the initiation of the Calgary event after contacting SlutWalk  Toronto in the planning stages of their walk. For Brady, this is more about  holding a peaceful awareness event than it is about protest. SlutWalk Calgary  aims to raise awareness of sexual assault and to bring public attention and  support to the mission of CCASA, which is to   provide leadership to impact attitudes and actions around sexual abuse and  sexual assault.

On  June 11, 2011 satellite SlutWalks will simultaneously be held in Portland,  Detroit and Adelaide (Australia) in addition to Calgary, and potentially more  cities with numerous satellite walks yet to be announced. SlutWalk Calgary will  also follow the SlutWalk Edmonton event which will be held on June 4, 2011.

SlutWalk  Toronto initiated when on January 24, 2011 a representative of the Toronto  Police suggested women can avoid sexual assault by not dressing like a "slut"  at York University. Organizers banded and ignited a walk which was held on  April 3, 2011 to spread the message that: "being assaulted isn’t about what you  wear; it’s not even about sex; but using a pejorative term to rationalize  inexcusable behaviour creates an environment in which it’s okay to blame the  victim." www.slutwalktoronto.com