Men in Cold Lake will be swapping their runners for red high heels in support of the Dr. Margaret Savage Crisis Centre (DMSCC).
The DMSCC will be hosting the Walk a Mile in Her Shoes march as part of the July 1 Canada Day parade in Cold Lake. It will be the first time the walk has ever been held in the city.
Similar events have taken place all over the world since Frank Baird organized the first Walk a Mile in Her Shoes in 2001.
Those who choose to participate will be hard at work collecting pledges for the march from now until July 1.
Since the walk's inception, hundreds of thousands of men across the globe have strapped on a pair of high heels in hopes of raising awareness on the issue of domestic violence.
After learning of the concept, Serina Parsons, DMSCC resource development coordinator, knew she wanted to bring the march to the area.
“We had heard about it before and I remember seeing the signature red high heel and I thought, ‘that's something that we absolutely need to do,'” recalled Parsons.
The initial event, held during intermission of the Bonnyville Pontiacs game on Feb 26, 2017, exceeded the crisis centre's expectations.
“It was amazing, we got a really good response. We had an RCMP officer, a bunch of firefighters, even (Bonnyville) Mayor Gene Sobolewski, all dressed in heels,” detailed Susan White, DMSCC director. “The pictures were quite cute.”
White added she hopes holding the march in accordance with the Canada Day celebrations will encourage more public figures to join in on the fun.
Cold Lake Mayor Craig Copeland has already agreed to pull double duty during the parade.
“Our tradition on the city float is always to give out lots of candy, it will be interesting doing it in a pair of high heels,” he joked. “I'm happy to participate, it's all about awareness, getting people to better understand the situation. I'm definitely looking forward to all the calluses on my feet for sure.”
All funds raised from the event will go to the various support programs offered by the centre. Ultimately though, the event is a fun way to get people talking about a sensitive subject.
“While it covers a very serious topic, it's a fun event. All these men are coming out, wearing the red high heels, laughing and marching for a cause they believe in. It's going to offer great exposure and help us raise some much-needed dollars for the crisis centre,” explained Parsons.
Registration for the Canada Day Walk a Mile in Her Shoes is free, but participants will be expected to collect pledges. Those interested in joining or donating can contact Serina Parsons at 780-594-5095 or by emailing [email protected].
