April 12, 2018 - The Crime Prevention Council has partnered with Sexual Abuse Centre Thunder Bay and the City's Recreation & Culture Division to bring Project SoundCheckTM to Thunder Bay. Project SoundCheckTM was founded in Ottawa in 2015 after research showed that 25% of sexual assaults in Ottawa occurred at mass gatherings like festivals and concerts.

"What we know is that at festivals and large events, people experience sexual violence on a spectrum, which includes being followed, harassed, or cornered, as well as drug facilitated sexual assault. When people are trained to recognize this violence and how to intervene safely, then sexual violence prevention is possible," said Lee-Ann Chevrette, Coordinator, Crime Prevention Council.

Staff from the Sexual Abuse Centre Thunder Bay have been trained in Project SoundCheckTM"˜s Bystander Intervention techniques. "Our Centre is pleased to be able to offer training to volunteers, festival organizers, security personnel, first aid staff and anyone else who is interested in learning how to challenge bystander apathy, create a culture of consent and help reduce the incidence of sexual violence in our community," said Deborah Dika, Executive Director of Sexual Abuse Centre Thunder Bay.

Three training sessions have been scheduled:

1) Thursday April 19th - Regional Food Distribution Association (570 Syndicate Ave. S.) - Course Code: 393738
2) Thursday May 10th - Thunder Bay 55 Plus Centre (700 River St.) - Course Code: 393788
3) Thursday May 17 - Mary JL Black Library (901 Edward St. S.) - Course Code: 393789

All three sessions will run from 6:30 pm to 9:00 pm. Participants only need to attend one of the above sessions.  Cost is $15 plus tax per person. CALL 625-8463 TO REGISTER. SPACE IS LIMITED. Quote the Course Code for the day you wish to attend.

Additional training sessions are available for other organizations or events upon request. Please contact Deborah Dika at Sexual Abuse Centre Thunder Bay at 345-0894 or ddika@tbsasa.org.

For more information about Project SoundCheckTM, visit: thunderbay.ca/projectsoundcheck

 
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Contact: 
Lee-Ann Chevrette, Coordinator Crime Prevention Council, 625-2554, lchevrette@thunderbay.ca 
Deborah Dika, Executive Director, Sexual Abuse Centre Thunder Bay, 345-0894, ddika@tbsasa.org