The #Metoo campaign, which has led women to share stories of sexual harassment and abuse, is making a difference, says the University of Victoria鈥檚 Leah Shumka.
鈥淚t is an important activist movement,鈥� said Shumka, co-ordinator of UVic鈥檚 newly created Sexualized Violence Resource Office. 鈥淚t is bringing this issue to the forefront.鈥�
She said her office was opened as part of the university鈥檚 sexualized-violence prevention and response policy, established this past May.
鈥淲e do prevention and education 鈥� aimed at students, staff and faculty 鈥� but we also are a resource office, so we provide folks who have been impacted by sexualized violence with information and advice around the policy and what potential options and supports are available to them,鈥� Shumka said.
鈥淥ur work is very much focused on the campus community, but definitely links in and complements a lot of the approaches that are happening in the community, around taking survivor-centred and trauma-informed approaches to this issue.鈥�
The university also has a long-serving Anti-Violence Project run by the UVic Students鈥� Society.
From a police perspective, people with concerns should feel free to talk to officers, said Victoria Police Department acting spokesman Bowen Osoko.
That can include reacting to a workplace incident involving someone you know or one聽involving a stranger on the street, Osoko said.
鈥淭he first thing for people to know is that no matter what happens, no matter what choices they make, the approach that the police department will have is we鈥檒l believe them when they report to us and we鈥檒l connect them to resources.鈥�
Anyone faced with a dangerous circumstance should do whatever it takes to get to safety, and then seek help, Osoko said.
鈥淚f that means going to a home or a business, do it,鈥� he said. 鈥淎nd when it doubt, call 911.鈥�
He pointed to the scenario of a woman in a bar feeling uncomfortable on a date.
鈥淚f they don鈥檛 feel right, talk to the server, talk to the bartender.鈥�
Other options for dealing with a situation are calling a non-emergency police line or a local agency, Osoko said.
He said Victoria has many agencies that can help in an assault situation.
Some people find that self-defence courses are a good option for making them feel safer, Osoko said.
鈥淎nything that helps someone feel confident and safe and calm, especially in a crisis, is going to be helpful.鈥�
In 2016, Saanich police dealt with a string of sexual assaults and indecent acts around Gordon Head, including an incident on Church Avenue that led to advisories at the University of Victoria.
Saanich police Acting Sgt. Jereme Leslie said at the time that the women affected by the indecency and groping showed courage in coming forward to tell their stories.
Generally speaking, said Victoria police Det. Sgt. Kristi Ross, the responding officer will be the one to take the report from an assault victim.
鈥淲e always immediately try and get the survivor hooked up with the victim-services agency,鈥� such as the Men鈥檚 Trauma Centre or the Victoria Sexual Assault Centre, Ross said.
Often, a survivor will contact a victim-services agency first, she said, and get help in making a report to police.
鈥淚t allows the survivor to get that initial support.鈥�
The University of Victoria deals with issues that arise on campus through the Sexualized Violence Resource Office, Shumka said.
Here are some agencies that can be contacted:
鈥� Victoria Sexual Assault Centre 鈥� 250-383-5545/Crisis Line 250-383-3232
鈥� Men鈥檚 Trauma Centre 鈥� 250-381-6367
鈥� Victoria Women鈥檚 Transition House 鈥� 250-592-2927; 24-hour crisis and information line 鈥� 250-385-6611
鈥� Salt Spring Island Transition House 鈥� 250-537-0735
鈥� Sandy Merriman House Emergency Shelter for Women 鈥� 250-480-1408
鈥� Peers Victoria Resources Society 鈥� 250-388-5325