Locals gathered to raise awareness of childhood sexual assault in the area’s first Victor Walk.
On Wednesday, July 18, the walk was hosted in Cold Lake to bring awareness to the cause and show survivors they’re not alone.
When Dragonfly Centre counsellor Lisa Lefebvre heard the Victor Walk would be going through Alberta this year, she wanted to organize a local stop.
“It’s a cause that’s near and dear to our hearts at the Dragonfly Centre,” she explained, noting the people who seek their services have often experienced a form of sexual abuse.
The Victor Walk started in 2013 when former NHL-er Theo Fleury walked from Toronto, ON to Ottawa, ON over 10 days, and everyone involved was changed by the experience.
A survivor of sexual assault becomes a Victor when they tell their story, and seek help to begin their journey of healing.
Around 50 supporters gathered outside of the Tri City Mall, and walked along the Millennium Trail to the Energy Centre, where a rally was held.
The heat and humidity didn’t stop residents from standing up for the cause.
“Together we stand for awareness, protection of children, and for a safe community,” said participant Megan Fehr.
Walkers held signs with encouraging messages to survivors and facts about childhood sexual abuse. They wore orange as a sign of solidarity.
The turnout for the event was more than the Dragonfly Centre could have hoped for, and Lefebvre was very pleased about the support.
“It’s an amazing cause, and all the people who came out were passionate about the issue.”
The walk was led Fleury, who is a Victor himself, as part of the 2018 Alberta Victor Walk Week. The event is one of many being hosted across the province to bring awareness to the subject of abuse.
Fleury said, “It’s really about getting rid of the stigma attached to survivors of trauma that can result from any traumatizing event.”
A victim of childhood sexual assault, Fleury found his voice when he wrote his 2011 memoir, Playing with Fire. Now, he hopes to help other survivors feel empowered by being able to share their experience.
“If we help one person today find their voice, we’ve done our job,” he said. “We had people pull over in their cars on the highways and share their stories of sexual abuse with us.”
Following the success of the 2013 Victor Walk, Fleury and like-minded individuals created the Break Free Foundation (BFF) to raise awareness about trauma.
“All of us at the BFF have experienced some sort of trauma throughout our lives,” he explained. “By helping other people, we’re healing ourselves and it’s that simple for us.”
The original walk made Fleury realize how important raising awareness for survivors was, and that he wasn’t alone in his struggles.
“I thought I was the only person in the world going through this... I quickly realized I wasn’t in the minority, I was actually in the majority of people who experience trauma.”
During the rally, Fleury said that he was overwhelmed with the amount support he saw in Cold Lake and at an earlier gathering in Lac La Biche.
“We’re getting to a place where we’re more comfortable starting conversations, and we realize people are struggling and need support.”
The 2018 Alberta Victor Walk started on July 17 in Fort McMurray, and made stops in Lac La Biche and Cold Lake on July 18. On July 19, the tour went to Drumheller for another event and to make a stop in the Drumheller prison before heading to Medicine Hat. The final walk was held in Calgary on July 21, where BFF is based out of.
The Dragonfly Centre offers counselling and support to residents in the Lakeland who’ve experience sexual assault, and are free to anyone who requires their services. For more information, visit them online at www.dragonflycentre.com or by phone at 780-815-4456.
