Nova Scotia launches next phase of sexual violence strategy
$250,000 to 11 community groups fighting sexual violence
Nova Scotia's community services minister launched the next phase of the province's sexual violence strategy Monday, announcing more than $250,000 for 11 community groups, with the goal of preventing sexual violence and supporting survivors.
Joanne Bernard said an additional $600,000 will be made available again in the fall, for a total investment of more than $1.2 million over two years.
Since the sexual violence strategy began two years ago, the province has spent $1.25 million on community grants, provided 211 and 811 phone operators with special training, and struck an interdepartmental committee aimed at streamlining government policies related to sexual violence.
A public awareness campaign is expected to be launched this fall.
As part of the announcement, Dartmouth student Kayley Dixon, 14, read "A Touch of Sexual Assault," a powerful and troubling poem she wrote about what it's like being a teen girl today.
Dixon is involved in the Youth Art Connection project, one of the groups that received funding from the Nova Scotia government this week to fight sexual violence.
Bernard announced the latest grant recipients at the Northbrook Community Centre in Dartmouth on Monday.
They are:
- Youth Art Connection, Youth Arts Leadership project, $22,250
- Avalon Sexual Assault Centre, Strong and Safer Together Project, $50,000
- Alex Coley and Cameron Ure, Campus Sexual Violence Prevention training, $4,954
- Centre for Housing and Residence Life, Saint Mary's University, SMU Residence Consent Project, $2,500
- Central Nova Women's Centre, Engaging Youth in a Violence Free Future project, $5,000
- Northern AIDS Connection Society, LookOUT Photovoice project, $12,000
- Music Liberatory, Women Safe and Sound project, $30,000
- AIDS Coalition, Totally Outright in Nova Scotia training, $10,000
- YWCA, Girls Space Zine project, $5,000, and Youth onLine Overcome Violence education, $15,000
- Heartwood, Cultivating a Community Network for Working with Boys and Young Men, $50,000
- Chebucto Connections, Boys Circles/Girls Circles program, $40,000