The City of St. Albert officially declared May as Sexual Violence Awareness Month during an open house at the new Saffron Centre office on May 5.
“Let us reaffirm our commitment to creating a community free from sexual violence, where everyone is treated with dignity and respect,” said Coun. Mike Killick, after making the declaration on behalf of Mayor Cathy Heron and the rest of city council.
The event also marked the official opening of the Saffron Centre’s new dedicated office space in the Northern Alberta Business Incubator (NABI) building, after operating for two and a half years out of a shared space in St. Albert.
“We offer counselling services for anyone four years of age and older — children, youth, and adults — who have experienced sexual abuse or any type of sexual violence,” said Roxane Tiessen, executive director of the Saffron Centre. “We also provide counselling for their support people, because we know the whole community is an important part of the healing process.”
Tiessen explained that sexual violence impacts people of all ages and backgrounds, with one in two Albertans facing some form of sexual violence in their lifetime.
“This crime affects every single one of us,” she said. “It’s our children, it’s our brothers and sisters, it’s our parents, it’s our co-workers, it’s our close friends — and if you don’t know anybody in your life who has been impacted, it’s likely because they haven’t told you yet.”
The event also coincided with Red Dress Day, the national day of remembrance that honours the lives of Missing and Murdered Indigenous women, girls, and two-spirited people. Knowledge Keeper Maureen Callihoo Ligtvoet from Michel First Nation spoke at the event.
“Do I know anybody who’s on the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women’s list? Yes, I do,” said Callihoo Ligtvoet. “All of the women in my family have been affected by sexual violence, discrimination, and violence in general — and such a high per cent of women experience this before the age of 15, which is really heartbreaking.”
Callihoo Ligtvoet added that she is hopeful Saffron will someday offer Indigenous programming.
“I’m so happy that we’re here to celebrate this wonderful place, but I’m sad that we need this service,” she said.
The Saffron Centre has operated in Strathcona County and the surrounding area for 25 years. The new office marks a step toward making services more accessible to St. Albert residents.
“Access to healing supports in your community goes a long way toward telling the community to destigmatize sexual violence,” said Tiessen. “We don’t want it to be hard to get to counselling. For so many of our clients, being in this space and being able to get here easily just contributes to their healing.”
While the St. Albert location operates as a satellite office, it offers residents the same services available in Sherwood Park, including education and outreach programs and the police and court support program.
Tiessen said the office has been open since February and that, as more people learn about the services, they will assess community needs and determine whether expansion is necessary.
“It truly takes a whole community to come together to bring hope and healing for those affected by sexual violence,” said Tiessen.
