GUELPH – May is Sexual Assault Awareness Month and the newly formed Recovery Speaking Initiative is holding a week’s worth of activities May 14 to 20.
“We want to make it so it’s not scary,” said Lisa Browning, one of the members who is also running a workshop.
“The focus is on hope because there is hope after abuse. People can get through it.”
May 14
Browning and Shanan Cunnington, of the Embrace Network, are hosting an in-person workshop called “Sharing your Story, Changing the World” along with special guest authors Pamela Frey and Derek Smith.
The session runs from 2:30 to 4pm at Harcourt United Church, 87 Dean Ave. in Guelph. Cost is $30 and includes a copy of What a Gift! Inspirational stories of hope after trauma, abuse or addiction.
May 15
An afternoon concert by Lisa Hartt, whose new single Tell the Truth, reflects a heroic journey from the deep abyss of despair to the high-flying joy of enlightenment.
This concert is at Silence, 46 Essex St. in Guelph, from 2:30 to 4pm. Cost is $30.
May 16
Author Pamela Frey will talk about her journey of healing from childhood sexual abuse, which officials say will bring hope to many survivors.
Her session, “Healing through creative transformation,” runs 4:30 to 6pm at Harcourt United Church. Cost is $30 and includes a copy of Frey’s book, The Woman Who Picked up her Child.
May 17
Bob McCabe, founder of Recovery Speaking Initiative, will be speaking at the Transforming Trauma Conference in Toronto. But he’ll be giving an online interview with a sexual abuse survivor Val B.
May 18
There will be a live screening of a documentary film by Matt Gallagher called Prey, which examines the issue of sexual abuse in the Catholic church. While the screening in Niagara on the Lake, McCabe will again do an online chat with survivor Rod McLeod.
May 19
Can a horse help you get over the trauma of sexual abuse? Dr. Kristina Karvinen, Mena Canonico, Lori Buirns and Anne Theriault will talk about equine assisted learning and how it can help in these situations.
The event runs from 10:30am to noon at Harcourt United Church. McCabe will chat with lawyer Rob Talach in an online interview.
May 20
This is community day and many of the organizations involved in outreach and support of sexual assault victims will be on hand to talk about their organization and what they do.
This runs 10:30am to 3:30pm at Harcourt United Church. There is no cost for this event.
Browning says sexual abuse is one of those taboo topics that really must be talked about openly.
“When it gets in the open, there’s less stigma,” she said. “That’s when you can start to heal.”
Payment for the sessions can be completed through e-transfer to info@recoveryspeaking.org
For more information, visit recoveryspeaking.org.
