Nearly 50 men in red heels came out to support women of the Battlefords and the Battlefords and Area Sexual Assault Centre on Thurs., May. 16. (Julia Lovett-Squires/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Julia Lovett-Squires

Red Heels

Men of the Battlefords take a stroll in red heels for Walk A Mile In Her Shoes; raise over $18K for BASAC

May 17, 2024 | 5:00 PM

As friends and family cheered and laughed, dozens of men in bright red pumps took to the streets of North Battleford and strutted, stumbled and high-stepped their way down the sidewalk.

They were spreading a message: They support the women of the Battlefords and the Battleford and Area Sexual Assault Centre (BASAC).

RCMP Rookie Sheriff Grove is the first to make it back during the event to support women of the Battlefords and the Battlefords and Area Sexual Assault Centre on Thurs., May. 16. (Julia Lovett-Squires/battlefordsNOW Staff)

“The point is to literally ‘Walk A Mile in Her Shoes’ and end gender-based violence, sexual assault,” said Executive Director Amber Stewart of the May. 16 event.

“For us, it’s really these men identifying themselves in the community that they will support the women of the community, that they will believe survivors and they will actively participate in the work that we do.”

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The eighth annual event, held outside Blend Kitchen and Bar, brought 47 men out to don the high heels and for first-timer Brandy Reade, who was there to support her husband and his team, it was exciting.

“I guess just seeing the guys walk in the high heels,’ she said of her anticipation.

“I’m hoping nobody falls.”

Women cheer on the men in heels during the event to support women of the Battlefords and the Battlefords and Area Sexual Assault Centre on Thurs., May. 16. (Julia Lovett-Squires/battlefordsNOW Staff)

For Effrem Okemow and Grant Rousseau from the Gold Eagle Casino team, it was a day to come out, support a good cause and have fun.

“First time it was hard on the ankles,” said Okemow of his first time in the heels eight years ago.

“Now, it’s a walk in the park.”

He explained that it was they were looking forward to walking with others from different organizations and showing the community they can come together as one. They also noticed the amount of people who came out.

“There’s always new people showing up and coming and joining the cause,” said Rousseau.

From left: Mike Aimoe and Kurt Briant of Pattison Media Family of Stations, John Jangula and Battleford Mayor Ames Leslie get ready to walk during the event to support women of the Battlefords and the Battlefords and Area Sexual Assault Centre on Thurs., May. 16. (Julia Lovett-Squires/battlefordsNOW Staff)

“I think it’s good that the men are standing up and showing our support. It always hasn’t been that way so, and I think people are getting more comfortable with the whole idea of putting on a pair of red pumps and taking a stroll,” he added.

“It doesn’t knock our (manhood) down at all, it just, we’re supporting our counterparts.”

According to Stewart, one in three girls and one in six boys will be a victim of sexual violence by the time they turn 18. She explained that both Indigenous women and the Trans community are at higher risk.

Participants walk back from their mile in red heels during the event to support women of the Battlefords and the Battlefords and Area Sexual Assault Centre on Thurs., May. 16. (Julia Lovett-Squires/battlefordsNOW Staff)

“The women in the Battlefords in particular, you know, we see the (Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls) crisis, we’ve had a number of women from our community that have gone missing,” she said.

“Some have been found and some, their families are still searching for them every day and so it’s something that happens in our community.”

New this year were signs for people to hold featuring information about what BASAC is doing. One sign read: “Community presentations to 1,586 people and prevention education to 1,283 school-aged children,” another read, “812 counselling sessions to women” and still another spoke to the 784 counselling sessions to children provided this year.

Kale Pewap and Blair Evans rest their heels during the event to support women of the Battlefords and the Battlefords and Area Sexual Assault Centre on Thurs., May. 16. (Julia Lovett-Squires/battlefordsNOW Staff)

“The majority of the clients we serve are children and that’s why it’s also important for us to be in the community because there’s no other specialized service that will support these kids,” said Stewart.

While the final fundraising count is still coming in, they’ve made it passed the $18,000 mark – a new record. Reflecting on the evening’s event, the executive director said it was particularly trying as they were no longer allowed to provide information sessions in the school system.

“I feel like the support that we received last night just made all of us feel like ‘OK, this is why we do what we do,’” she said.

“We’re always excited and it’s always a fun event but it did feel different for us this year. It was definitely more of an emotional feeling and we’re always grateful but it just a little bit more this year.”

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julia.lovettsquires@pattisonmedia.com

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