Chilliwack, Kent, Hope and Area Sexual Assault Services

Free air conditioners are still available for the people who need them most. Eligible households with annual income up to $105,000 a year can apply: https://www.bchydro.com/powersmart/residential/rebates-programs/savings-based-on-income/free-air-conditioner.html. People with a referral from their local health authority do not need to provide proof of income.

This is just one of the actions we're taking to help keep people safe when climate events occur. And it's starting to make a difference. So far 12,000 households have benefited from having cooler air during hot temperatures.

Can you relate? 💙

Have your booked your appointment?

Are you familiar with the difference between gossiping and venting?

Which do you do more? 💙

Are you or someone you know in need of free legal advice?

Legal Aid BC is providing no cost drop in services once a month on a first come, first serve basis at our outreach office on vedder rd.

For more information on drop in dates contact us today at 604-705-2064 or at [email protected]

Happy ! Can you fill in the blank? _______ are needed in every relationship. They help you determine the level of vulnerability you’re comfortable sharing for both you and your partner.

✔️ Answer: Boundaries are needed in every relationship. They help you determine the level of vulnerability you’re comfortable sharing for both you and your partner.

Setting boundaries in all aspects of our lives is important. They empower you to decide how you want to be treated, while honoring your partner’s boundaries to allow you to become supportive.

Survivors of sexual assault often remain silent about their experiences due to a complex array of reasons. Fear of not being believed, shame, guilt, and self-blame are common barriers to disclosure. Many survivors worry about being ostracized, judged, or blamed by family, friends, and community, leading to feelings of isolation and loneliness. The trauma of the assault can also cause survivors to dissociate from their experiences, making it difficult to articulate what happened. Additionally, perpetrators may use tactics like intimidation, threats, and manipulation to silence their victims. Societal attitudes that perpetuate r**e culture, such as victim-blaming and slut-shaming, can further discourage survivors from coming forward. Furthermore, the emotional and psychological toll of reliving the trauma through disclosure can be overwhelming, leading some survivors to remain silent as a coping mechanism. Ultimately, the decision to disclose is a deeply personal and often fraught one, and it's essential to create a supportive and non-judgmental environment that encourages survivors to share their stories when they are ready.

If you have been the victim of sexual violence, or you know someone who is, you are not alone and there is help available.

You can reach out to the 24/7 HUB by calling 604-869-5191 or call/text Chilliwack outreach at 604-869-6337 or Hope, Agassiz and Area at 604-869-1883 for confidential, non-judgmental support.

Recognizing signs of abuse in teen dating is crucial to help prevent and address unhealthy relationships. Here are some common signs of abuse in teen dating:

Emotional Abuse

Constant criticism or put-downs
Name-calling or insults
Belittling or humiliating in front of others
Making threats or intimidating behavior
Isolation from friends and family
Constantly checking in or monitoring social media
Making you feel guilty or responsible for their emotions

Physical Abuse

Hitting, slapping, pushing, or shoving
Grabbing or restraining
Throwing objects or breaking things
Physical intimidation or threats
Forcing sexual activity or touching
Restricting freedom or movement

Digital Abuse

Constantly texting or calling to check in
Demanding passwords or access to social media
Monitoring online activity or tracking location
Sending threatening or harassing messages
Posting intimate or embarrassing photos without consent
Using technology to control or manipulate

Sexual Abuse

Forcing sexual activity or touching
Pressuring for sexual photos or videos
Making unwanted sexual comments or advances
Ignoring boundaries or consent
Using coercion or manipulation to get sexual favors

Financial Abuse

Controlling access to money or financial resources
Forcing you to work or earn money for them
Taking or stealing your money or belongings
Making you feel guilty for spending money on yourself
Signs of an Unhealthy Relationship

Feeling scared, anxious, or depressed in the relationship
Feeling like you're walking on eggshells to avoid conflict
Feeling isolated from friends and family
Feeling like you're not good enough or worthy
Feeling trapped or stuck in the relationship

Red Flags

They have a history of abusive behavior
They have a history of substance abuse
They are overly possessive or jealous
They have a history of cheating or lying
They make you feel bad about yourself or your body

What to Do If You're in an Abusive Relationship

Reach out to a trusted adult, such as a parent, teacher, or counselor.
Document incidents of abuse, including dates, times, and details of what happened.
Create a safety plan, including a safe place to stay and a way to communicate with friends and family.
Seek support from friends, family, or a support group.

Remember, you deserve a healthy and respectful relationship. If you're experiencing any of these signs of abuse, don't hesitate to reach out for help. You are not alone, and we believe you. If you notice some of these signs of abuse in your relationship, you can reach out for support. If you or someone you know is looking for emotional support or information, reach out via call/text for support in Chilliwack 604-869-6337 or Hope & area at 604-869-1883 or use our 24-hour HUB Line for immediate support at 604-869-5191.

What is r**e culture? 🧐

If you haven't heard the definition of it yet, you've probably seen or heard it many times before. There is also a good chance you've accidentally been a part of it yourself at some point.

The thing about culture is it's all around us. It's a part of our beliefs and the way we interact with one another. It's shown to us through TV, music, movies, advertisements, art, media, and many more.

When that culture lays on a foundation of sexist attitudes, stereotypes, gender norms, coercion, victim-blaming, r**e jokes, etc. it creates a toxic environment that allows for sexualized violence to be normalized and perpetuated.

Our goal is to get far far faaaar away from this type of culture. Often it is perpetrated because we are conditioned at a young age to believe it's OK to joke about this, or it's OK to persuade someone to do that. However, r**e culture fuels violence.

Perhaps you will never perpetrate sexualized violence yourself, however, when we don't call out our friends who make obscene "jokes", or tell our little ones that other kids who are mean to them "have a crush on them", or sit in silence during locker room talk, we normalize and enable harmful beliefs and behaviour that can lead to sexualized violence.

You can change this though, and stop r**e culture in its tracks. It's all a learning process. But it can be done!

Learn more about r**e culture on our website under "Learning & Resources," and see where you can make some changes in your life.

Our upcoming Traditional Wellness Mentor Workshop with Muriel Victor is happening on Monday, May 27th from 1:30-3:30pm. This is a FREE workshop, hosted in the Shxw’éyelhawxt Sacred Space room at the Primary Care Centre in Chilliwack at #104 – 7955 Evans Road.

Learn about remedies and tools to help women and girls find daily balance in their busy lives. Workshop includes a make-and-take tea, and door prizes. All are welcome.

Please RSVP today: https://chilliwackdivision.checkbox.ca/twm-workshop---may-27

Change of venue, we will be back this Tuesday at Sto:lo Nation.
Men's Respectful Relationship program is starting May 21st, 2024. There's are spots still available, lunch is provided come share a meal.
To register please call Heather Walker at (604) 798-3328 or by email [email protected]. Kw'as hoy!

Many thanks to those who made it to the Survivor Art Installation last Friday for . A shout out to Hope RCMP Victim Services for generously volunteering your time at the exhibition. Your support and solidarity are greatly appreciated.

Our warmest thanks go to the survivors for your tremendous courage and for allowing us to be a small part of your journey. We are committed to strengthening our support for survivors and advocating for safer communities.

Sexual violence can include sharing intimate photos online or socially. This can feel violating, embarrassing, and defeating. If you are under the age of 18 and believe that someone has shared your intimate photos online, you may be able to have them removed using https://takeitdown.ncmec.org/

Have you heard of this service before?

Take It Down This service is one step you can take to help remove online n**e, partially n**e, or sexually explicit photos and videos taken before you were 18.

We are at Art Machine Studio (357 Fort St. Hope
BC) for the Survivor Art Installation from 10-4.

Today, we hold space for the survivors who have been impacted by sexual violence. We believe and support you.

Visit us at the exhibition as we work towards building a safer community by strengthening our support and coordination for the vulnerable and to reduce the likelihood of sexual abuse, assault, and harassment.

Survivor Art Installation will open tomorrow on Friday, April 26 from 10am-4pm.

Location: Art Machine Studio A | 357 Fort St. Hope BC

Free Admission. There will be giveaways and interactive activities at the exhibition. We warmly encourage attendees to practice self-care while attending the event.

We are deeply grateful for the survivors for who shared their stories and lent their outfits to us. We greatly appreciate the support from the community partners for making it happen. Join us tomorrow and take this opportunity to listen to the survivors and build connected communities.

Third Party Reporting

Third-party reporting is an alternative reporting option for survivors of sexual violence who may not want to report directly to the police or criminal justice system. In this process, a trained third-party intermediary helps the survivor report the crime to the police without having to disclose their personal information. The survivor has the option to remain anonymous, and their name and contact information are not shared with the police without their explicit consent.

Third-party reporting allows survivors to access resources, support, and justice without having to directly engage with the criminal justice system. It also enables law enforcement to gather information about sexual assault cases and identify patterns of offending behavior, which can help prevent future crimes. Third-party reporting is an essential tool in supporting survivors and promoting safety and justice in communities. It is important to note that the availability and specifics of third-party reporting may vary depending on the jurisdiction and region.

In 1999, the Italian Supreme Court overturned a r**e conviction from 1993. The justices ruled that since the victim was wearing tight jeans, she must have helped the perpetrator remove her jeans, thereby implying consent. The following day, women in the Italian Parliament came to work wearing jeans as a symbol of protest to stand in solidarity with the victim.

This day we wear denim to participate in the worldwide campaign to combat the myth of victim-blaming. There is no excuse and never an invitation to commit sexual assault. We believe and support survivors.

You can learn more about Denim Day and Peace Over Violence based in Los Angeles, CA at https://denimday.org/.

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month. Hope and Area Transition Society Sexual Assault Services presents a Survivor Art Installation that displays the clothes worn by sexual violence survivors when they experienced sexual assault or sexual harassment. This event was inspired by the poem written by Dr. Mary Simmerling titled “What I was wearing.”

In the poem, Dr. Mary Simmerling reflects on the ways in which the public discourse tends to take the onus off the sexual assault offender and places it on the survivor. The myth of “the survivor of sexual violence ‘asking for it’” prevails and it perpetuates societal attitudes of victim-blaming.

By showcasing the banality of everyday clothes, we invite the participants to join us and reevaluate the impact of asking a survivor “what were you wearing?” in the first place. The aims of the exhibits are to challenge the victim-blaming narrative, demonstrate that we believe the survivors, hold perpetrators accountable, and most importantly, demand a consent culture. We ask: if changing one’s clothes does not end sexual violence, what role do we play in fostering safety in the community?

Do you know the options for reporting sexual violence?

There are various options you can choose after an assault, and you do not have to navigate these options alone.

If you or someone you know has been impacted by sexual violence, please reach out to our 24/7 HUB at 604-869-5191 and they can connect you with a support worker.

Here are the most common options available to you in the Fraser East region;

Disclosure: Sharing your experience with a safe & trusted person.

Medical exam: following a sexual assault, checking in with a doctor or the ER can provide you with a physical exam, pregnancy test, or STI testing. There is no obligation to report to RCMP.
Forensic exam: you may wish to have an evidence collection exam. This can be done up to 7 days after an assault at a specific hospital site. These are Abbotsford or Surrey. There is no obligation to report to RCMP and evidence can be held confidentially for up to one year.

Report: You can make a formal report to RCMP. This can be at the local detachment, or in an interview room at Chilliwack Community Services (youth/child) or Ann Davis.

Third Party Report: this is a report to RCMP while keeping your identity anonymous to the RCMP, and the person that caused harm. This is for information only and the TPR representative will be contacted on your behalf if RCMP would like to start an investigation.

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month. Join our campaign to raise awareness on the impacts of sexual violence, listen to the survivors, and build connected communities.

Please feel free to reach out for more information and/or if you would like to participate or collaborate.

APRIL EXCURSION NOW SET. Sign up lets fill the bus up!

Have you had a n**e or nearly-n**e private image shared without your consent? Are you worried someone might share your images?

It’s not your fault. And you are not alone. The Intimate Images Protection Service is here to help.

Sharing or threatening to share someone else's private images without consent is a form of sexualized violence, and it is illegal. Private images such as sexual, n**e or nearly-n**e images are also known as intimate images. To learn more about intimate images, visit intimate images and consent.

The Intimate Images Protection Service supports people in B.C. who have had their intimate images shared without their consent by:

-Providing emotional support and resources.

-Providing information on how to get your intimate image removed and the options available.

-Supporting victims through the Civil Resolution Tribunal or other reporting processes.

To learn more about supports available and the services we provide, please click the link.

Without consent, sharing someone’s intimate images is wrong. If someone has shared, or is threatening to share, your intimate images without permission, you can regain control by taking legal action. Help is available.

Tomorrow, January 21st 10am to 4pm at 5 corners in Downtown Chilliwack by students voice !

Come show your love and support of an inclusive and diverse community here in Chilliwack!

Love and Positivity only! ❤🧡💛💚💙💜🤎🖤

Support the youth!

High school students have had enough: launching their movement back in 2022 to shine light on sexual violence in high schools.

These students want you to know sexual assault happens in high school too, and it needs to stop A student-led Canadian network called High School Too has launched a nationwide campaign to end sexual violence in secondary schools, an issue two of its organizers say isn't being adequately addressed.

B.C. sexual assault survivors can receive free legal advice with new service Reported sexual assaults reached highest number in 25 years in 2021, according to Statistics Canada