With guest Diana Wark (she/her), RSW

You will leave this learning opportunity with practical tips to support parents in teaching sexual health and relationship information to their children.

With guests Hilary Jahelka (she/they), MSW, RSW and Sasha Best (she/her)

Often, people who have been sexually assaulted by other people move through the criminal legal system without truly understanding the process, without knowing why things are unfolding the way they are. The path through the criminal legal system in the context of sexual violence can be confusing – the processes, the people, their roles, the experience of being in court, and what is expected of the person who has been sexually assaulted by another person can all feel overwhelming and unclear.

Join Sasha Best and Hilary Jahelka with the Sexual Violence Survivors Legal Advice Program, in conversation with Kiara Mikita, the Sexual Violence Educator for the Cumming School of Medicine (CSM) and Alberta Health Services (AHS), as they discuss the basics of the path through the criminal legal system, address common areas of confusion and misconception about sexual violence and the criminal legal system, and talk about how the Sexual Violence Survivors Legal Advice Program works. They will speak to why people who have been sexually assaulted by other people seek out and benefit from legal advice, and the kinds of questions they are commonly asked.

Calgary Legal Guidance offers a number of programs focused on particular areas of law and on specific situations that our clientele may be dealing with. One of these programs is the Sexual Violence Survivors Legal Advice Program.

With guests Jenny Ofrim (she/her), MSW, RSW and Meg Martin (she/her), MC

Do you know about affirmative consent, and that it is Canada's legal standard?

Listen into this conversation about how consent is often (mis)understood and what we might do differently as a result. They will talk about why “no means no” is an insufficient consent standard (socially and legally), and why expectations around use of the word “no” can be problematic and misguided. Listen in as these sexual violence experts discuss affirmative consent and why it matters, and how examples of how we’re really good at it are everywhere.

With guest Stephanie Tipple (Mi’kmaw), BA (Hons), MSc

Healthcare providers often experience discomfort and uncertainty working with Indigenous peoples due to a lack of knowledge of colonialism, Indigenous culture, and the diversity of Indigeneity in Canada. Drawing on the critical knowledge and considerations presented in the previous session, this discussion will focus on action-oriented recommendations to address sexual violence when working with Indigenous populations.

With guest Stephanie Tipple (Mi’kmaw), BA (Hons), MSc

The impact of sexual violence on Indigenous peoples is uniquely complex due to centuries of colonialism and intergenerational trauma. In particular, historical and ongoing harm results in mistrust of healthcare services and providers. This conversation will educate listeners on critical knowledge and considerations needed to understand the impact of sexual violence on Indigenous populations.

With guests Femi Akinsanya (she/her), BSc and Patrina Duhaney, H.BA, BSW, MSW, PhD

How can we better understand the intersection of race and oppression in sexual violence support?

This discussion explores the complex and interconnected nature of sexual violence, oppression, and racism. We will understand how these systems of power and inequality intersect and perpetuate one another, leading to disproportionate harm and violence against marginalized communities. We will explore the roots of sexual violence and the cultural nuances of this issue, as well as the ongoing impact of sexual violence on individuals and communities.

Listeners will ideally develop a deeper understanding of the ways in which sexual violence, oppression, and racism intersect and be better equipped to take action toward creating a more just and equitable world.

With guest Hilary Jahelka (she/they), MSW, RSW

Increasingly, people who have experienced sexual violence are seeking legal advice to make sense of their own experiences and to better understand the legal processes they may choose to engage with or may already be involved with.

With guest Nolan E. Hill (he/him), BA

This session will explore the unique experiences of gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (gbMSM) in accessing and understanding their health and how this intersects with experiences of sexual violence.

We explore how sexual violence shows up for gbMSM in a variety of contexts, and how this impacts their health outcomes. Health care providers will leave with ideas for ways they can meaningfully and respectfully engage with gbMSM when discussing their health and sexual violence.

With guest Cathy Carter-Snell (she/her), PhD, RN SANE-A

We are all aware that being exposed to sexual violence is an incredibly difficult and traumatic experience. What many people may not know is that turning to legal systems to deal with sexual violence can bring with it its own unique challenges and questions.

With guest Jenny Ofrim (she/her), MSW, RSW

Join us as we explore how work in rural areas often means working with fewer resources, different challenges, and sometimes more complexity.