HALIFAX-ANTIGONISH:NOVA SCOTIA

The Halifax-Antigonish team provides sexual assault related services to Nova Scotia. Comprised of two teams who are working jointly wherever possible to meet Making a Difference objectives. This joint team has been working for the past two years to develop sexual assault service model. They report that coordination has dramatically improved results, and that because all team members were so intimately involved in the development of the model, everyone takes ownership and pride in the outcomes

NEWS:

May, 2012 :
Two New Campaigns Launch as Part of Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM) Initiative.

The theme this year is “Take Action to prevent sexualized violence and promote healthy sexuality in Nova Scotia”. The campaigns focus on changing messages and stereotypes about sexual consent, sex and drinking, and alcohol and drug facilitated sexual assault. Read More.

March, 2012 :
SANE (Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner) Plays a Pivotal Role in the Conviction.

■ DNA was successfully obtained from a swab from an area visualized by the SANEs with the alternate light source after the victim had showered. This, in addition to the SANEs compelling testimony about the nature and significance of the injuries, and enriched by the wealth of knowledge and expertise of the SANE, had a significant contribution to the conviction. Without the specialization of SANEs, including the use of specialized tools such as the alternate light source, DNA would not have been obtained in this case and may not have resulted in this aggravated sexual assault conviction.

This was not the offender’s first offense. SANEs were also involved in the case involving his previous assaults, resulting in a conviction. They will be seeking dangerous offender status on the offender.
Read the Media Report.

—Article Submission by Susan Wilson, SANE Program Coordinator Avalon Sexual Assault Center

February 2012 :

■ Is it time to Challenging the way journalists report sexual assault? Irene Smith, executive director of the Avalon Centre and a member of the Making a Difference Canada Advisory Group shares her thoughts with writer, Marie Hanifen. Read the Article.

■ In keeping with past tradition, Antigonish worked with Xavier University’s Peer Mentor Program as well as local nursing students to launch an information blitz wrapped around Valentine’s Day. The blitz featured Jeopardy boards in the University cafeteria, a sexual assault trivia game in a local pub, and postings around University. Attendance was good and the feedback was overwhelmingly positive.

Hypersexualization Workshop draws attention to disturbing trend.

■ The Antigonish Women’s Resource Centre and Sexual Assault Services Association hosted a Hyper-sexualization Workshop for service providers on the link between hyper-sexualization and violence against women. The workshop took a critical look at the effect media has on young adults. By looking at shows, alcohol commercials, music videos and other media portrayals with an analytical eye, SANE presenter Angela Fougere identified the nuances and triggers the average person may not readily identify.

The workshop also featured a panel discussion with youth to gain a better understanding of what they see in the media, and how they believe it affects their peer group’s perceptions around sex and potential abuse. A viewing of the documentary Generation M was also shown, followed by discussions among a wide cross section of the community: service providers, public health workers, school counselors and concerned parents among them.

January 2012:

■ At end of January, St. Martha’s Regional Hospital invited SANE to join them for their Professional Education Day for Emergency Room physicians and nurses. The presentation included sexual assault trends over the past five years, followed by breakout sessions where doctors, nurses and paramedics learned how to handle the initial communications with someone who has been sexually assaulted. There was also a quick refresher course on what the SANE program is, how it works and how it can help first responders who work with sexual assault victims.

INITIATIVES:

May 2012:
Antigonish is Launching its Third Sexual Assault Awareness Campaign.

Designed to generate awareness around sexual assault and its affect on victims, families and the community, this year’s campaign will feature public service spots on radio, articles in local newspapers, awareness information posted at schools and other venues. This year, campaign organizers hope to include an essay contest at local high schools as a way to inform and engage students.

February 2012:
New Pilot Program Helps Teens Make Healthy Transition.

The Antigonish Women’s Resource Centere’s Healthy Relationships for Youth Program has a new pilot program called Healthy Transitions. The pilot is aimed at helping students develop healthy coping methods and behaviors as they make the critical transition from high school to a secondary school and/or out into the ‘real’ world.

SANE representative Angela Fougere leads with presentations about sexual assault. Other facilitators then initiate other activities that include situational scenarios and intervention techniques. The wrap-up Q&A session includes an interactive Jeopardy portion where students can break into teams and compete for prizes. The sessions to date have been very successful, and the team is very excited that three new sessions are slated for April.

2011 INITIATIVES

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