Victims and Survivors of Crime Week- The Power of Collaboration

Join WSN for a series of events for 2024's Victim and Survivors of Crime Week. The theme this year is the Power of Collaboration so we have partnerned with service providers and experts across the sector to share their work, experiences and expertise. Please see below for our event guest speakers and stay tuned for more updates and speaker bios!

MONDAY MAY 13- Mindfulness in Motion: Trauma-Informed Yoga & Meditation for Healing, 4.00pm-5.00pm

• Facilitated by Chloë Olivia- Able Yoga: Chloë has been practicing yoga for over 10 years. It is her greatest pleasure and passion in life to each and share this practice with others. She believes yoga is for every body, every ability level, every body type. She teaches through the lens of accessibility and non-performative yoga, and aims to challenge preconceived notions about yoga.
  
  

TUESDAY MAY 14 - Voices for Change, Courage to Act: Collaborative Perspectives From Ontario Sexual Violence Crisis Centres, 1.00-2.30pm

• Allison Preyde- Anova: Allison (she/they) is the Prevention Education Manager at Anova in London, ON. Anova is the largest gender-based violence organization in Ontario, and has been offering trauma-informed feminist care for over 40 years. Allison is a seasoned facilitator with over 500 workshops engaging youth, post-secondary students, and professionals on topics related to gender-based violence and trauma.
• Amina Doreh- Sexual Assault Support Centre Ottawa: Amina is the Public Education & Media Coordinator at SASC Ottawa and executive member of the OCRCC. As a member of SASC Ottawa and a community advocate for almost 10 years, Amina's expertise is feminist-based peer support (crisis line, individual/group support) to folks who are survivors of sexual violence and providing education, awareness and about the nature of gender-based and sexual violence to the community
• Elise Hineman- Sexual Assault Centre for Quinte District: Elise is an Anishinaabe (Bear Clan) survivor of sexual violence and intimate partner violence. She is grateful to have had the opportunity to work in this sector for 22 years. This sacred work brings many teachings and opportunities for growth.

• Jaye Wesley- Kenora Sexual Assault Centre: Jaye is a compassionate leader committed to empowering survivors and ending sexual violence. Jaye thrives on fostering a supportive environment for healing, advocacy, and education. With extensive experience in Crisis Counseling, Trauma Informed Care and Community Outreach, she leverages partnerships and innovative approaches to drive impactful change and promote a culture of consent and respect.
• Rochelle Johnson- Durham Rape Crisis Centre: Rochelle (she/her) is a Registered SSW, Clinical Counsellor, and Psychotherapist. As an advocate for survivors of sexual violence, she provides community consultations on trauma, neurobiology, and healing. She’s been part of the OCRCC since 2016; supporting various efforts of the OCRCC, including attending and informing the BIPOC Front Line Worker’s Gathering Circle. Rochelle also provides Clinical Supervision and Mentorship to counsellors and students
• This session is moderated by the Ontario Coalition of Rape Crisis Centres (OCRCC) that represents all sexual violence crisis centers in Ontario
  
  

WEDNESDAY MAY 15 - Embracing Diversity: Cultural Perspectives for Supporting Survivors, 2.00-3.00pm

• Jenny Starke- A.N.B.U: Jenny is a Tamil woman of many identities who has and is embracing her personal experiences and sharing them to create awareness, challenge societal norms and inspire self and political transformation. With A.N.B.U., she hopes to create a voice for survivors of childhood sexual abuse and shed light, build capacity, strengthen awareness and compassion within the Tamil community and other equity seeking communities

• Suzanne Smoke Ginew Kwe Alderville First Nation- Muskoka Parry Sound Sexual Assault Services: Among Suzanne’s many roles and positions of trust, Suzanne is the Indigenous Outreach and Wellness Coordinator at Muskoka Parry Sound Sexual Assault Services, and joins us to share about Indigenous survivor experiences of sexual violence.
• Rosalyn Forrester- East Mississauga Community Health Centre & Embrave- Rosalyn is a mother, a grandmother, and a woman of colour who was born with transsexualism. She also lives with chronic pain. Rosalyn has fought to make changes in family law and police policies as it pertains to the greater trans communities. For several decades Rosalyn has worked as an advocate/activist for the greater trans communities. In 2011 she travelled through Ontario listening to the stories provided by various groups of trans survivors of sexual violence.

THURSDAY MAY 16- Championing Change: A Workshop on Male Allyship, 1.30-2.30pm

• Aaron Suavé- Native Child and Family Services of Toronto: Aaron is a First Nations man, born and raised in downtown Toronto. As an active community member, he has been contributing as an oskâpêwis - "helper" to the people in a variety of capacities within grassroots as well as organizations. The healing of communities, empowerment of people, and perpetuating the cultural heritage of all, is what he devotes his time and energy to.
• Blayne Mowbray- Sexual Assault Survivors' Centre Sarnia: Blayne is from Victoria, B.C and resides in Sarnia, Ontario. He is currently in college studying Child and Youth Care and is an active committee member of Sarnia's Sexual Assault Survivor's Centre's, Male Ally Coalition, and the Sarnia Lambton Alliance Against Hate Program of the John Howard Society. Blayne’s career aspirations are in youth crisis counselling and hate-motivated acts outreach.
• Jeff Perera- Higher Unlearning: Jeff is an educator and advocate of helpful versus harmful ideas of manhood. Since 2008 through his speaking engagements and online platform Higher Unlearning, his life’s work is to help men and young men draw new maps to manhood, and engage men in allyship building to help end gender-based violence
• Landon Kenney- Sexual Assault Support Centre of Waterloo Region: Landon (he/him) works as a Male Allyship and Consent Educator for the Sexual Assault Support Centre of Waterloo Region. He works with people of all ages and genders across the community to promote a culture of consent, but focuses on engaging men in conversations around allyship and their unique role in ending gender-based and sexual violence.

THURSDAY MAY 16- Mindfulness in Motion: Trauma-Informed Yoga & Meditation for Healing, 3.00pm-4.00pm

• Facilitated by Chloë Olivia- Able Yoga: Chloë has been practicing yoga for over 10 years. It is her greatest pleasure and passion in life to each and share this practice with others. She believes yoga is for every body, every ability level, every body type. She teaches through the lens of accessibility and non-performative yoga, and aims to challenge preconceived notions about yoga.

Save your spot and register free today to participate in these engaging learning sessions!

We hope to see you there!