(Ben Tompkins/northeastNOW)

By Ben Tompkins

Walk a mile

Tisdale, NEOSS host ‘Walk a Mile in Her Shoes’

Jun 5, 2025 | 5:52 PM

North East Outreach & Support Services (NEOSS) hosted a ‘Walk a Mile in Her Shoes’ event Thursday afternoon in Tisdale.

The walk is meant to bring awareness to domestic and gender-based violence issues. Saskatchewan has the highest rate of it in Canada, and 50 per cent of Canadian women have experienced abuse.

“The importance of this walk is to show the public that staying silent is not okay. We’re a community, and we need to have each other’s backs, so it’s important to share our stories,” said NEOSS finance, HR, benefits, and social media manager Shelley Robertson.

The main aspect of the event is that men are asked to walk the mile in red stilettos to advocate for women and other survivors of domestic violence.

“I can’t say enough. I am so thankful to every man that strapped on a pair of red high heels, just to see them walking in those and the people that came out and showed up for us, it’s amazing, and all of us are just so thrilled at the turnout today.”

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The discomfort, instability, and uncommon look and display are meant to signify what women feel in an abusive relationship.

The participants received pledges for their one-mile walk, with all the money going to support NEOSS, a non-profit, which puts all the resources back into northeast Saskatchewan communities.

For Robertson in particular, the event is a deeply personal and meaningful experience.

” In 2014, I moved from Alberta to Saskatchewan with my partner, and as soon as we arrived, he began to become abusive. There was later an incident where I was arrested after he lied to the police about things I did, when in reality it was me fighting back because he was choking me and I had to escape,” Robertson added.

“NEOSS helped me through all my court dates, driving me to and from work, to get groceries, to get back home and then hired me right after I was able to prove my innocence. They supported me in any way that they possibly could, and to be honest, I don’t know where I would be without them. They’re just an amazing group of women who care.”

According to statistics, only 1 in 4 survivors ever tell the police, and over 60 per cent of children exposed to domestic violence also experience direct abuse.

“If I can help somebody else get out of a domestically violent relationship with my story, then that’s one more person who has had the help,” Robertson concluded.

NEOSS is hoping that Thursday’s event raised close to $20,000. They will be back next year to host another event like this that could happen in Melfort, Tisdale, or Nipawin.

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