(Provided by AASAS)

By David Opinko

Province giving extra $50K to Association of Alberta Sexual Assault Services

May 6, 2021 | 11:40 AM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – An organization that helps the victims of sexual violence will now be better equipped to assist those in need.

In addition to the annual operating grant of $183,000, the provincial government is giving the Association of Alberta Sexual Assault Services (AASAS) a one-time grant of $50,000.

This extra funding will support their One Line for Sexual Violence, a province-wide toll-free line where victims can talk, text, or chat online with support workers who can provide resources, support, and referrals.

“I had the pleasure of attending the launch of Alberta’s One Line for Sexual Violence. All of the staff and volunteers should be so proud of the impact they have in our province,” says Leela Sharon Aheer, Minister of Culture, Multiculturalism, and Status of Women. “The hope they provide to people during their hour of need is essential to the well-being of our communities. It is an honour to provide this additional support to the One Line so the team can continue its important work.”

During the first six months of the COVID-19 pandemic, AASAS saw an overall increase in calls, texts, and chats of 44 per cent.

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Deb Tomlinson, CEO of AASAS, says there was also a noticeable spike during the second wave.

“This funding is so important – because people need Alberta’s One Line for Sexual Violence more than ever before. During states of emergency, like a global pandemic, rates of sexual violence rise. Between January and March 2021, the line experienced a 63 per cent increase in texts, calls and chats from the same time the previous year.”

According to AASAS, two-thirds of adult women and one-third of men have been sexually assaulted in their lifetime. The same can be said for half of underaged girls and one-quarter of boys.

More details on AASAS, including contact methods for victims of sexual violence, can be found here.

Note: Originally, the quote from Deb Tomlinson had that the line experienced a 67 per cent increase in texts, calls, and chats. The provincial government informed us that they made a mistake and that 63 per cent was the correct number.