Harmony Project – YWCA Banff

We’re here for you.

The Harmony Project offers compassionate support services to anyone who has been impacted by sexualized violence. Our services are free, confidential and available 7 days/week to anyone in the Bow Valley area. Contact us at support@ywcabanff.ca or 403-762-3560.

The Harmony Project Survivor Guide is a resource for survivors and those supporting them. Below is a list of available Bow Valley resources that can help. Click on each resource to find their contact details.

If you have experienced sexual assault or harassment:

This was not your fault and you are not to blame. There is no excuse for sexualized violence and is 100% the fault of the perpetrator.
You are not alone. Sadly, many people have experienced sexual assault. We’re here for you.
You deserve support and have the right to specialized resources.
You have choices. You decide which services and medical care to access and whether or not to contact the RCMP. You have the right to make an informed choice.
Maybe the assault happened a while ago, that’s o.k., support is available whenever you are ready.

You don’t have to go through this alone. We’re here for you.

What Is Sexualized Violence?

If any of the circumstances below apply, it was sexual assault.

I was passed out.
I was impaired by drugs and/or alcohol.
I was under 14 and they were an adult.
They used threats or force.
They used lies and/or false promises to pressure me into sexual activity.
They were in a position of power over me (Boss, Coach, Teacher, Minister, Police Officer).
I wanted to stop and they continued.
They didn’t ask me to try a new sexual activity.
I didn’t feel safe and/or comfortable.
I didn’t say an enthusiastic yes, or express that I was in agreement.

Sexualized Violence is a broad term referring to the spectrum of sexual offences, including sexual assault and harassment.

Sexual Assault: is any unwanted sexual act done by one person to another, or sexual activity without one person’s consent. Some examples would be unwanted kissing, butt slapping, sexual activity had under pressure, and forced oral sex.
Sexual Harassment: any conduct, comment, gesture, or contact of a sexual nature that is likely to cause offence or humiliation. Sexual harassment can and does occur in many contexts like workplaces, on the street, and in schools. Some examples would include unwanted flirting, jokes about sexual orientation or identity, and sharing sexual images without consent.

Who Are We?

The Harmony Project brings together Bow Valley based service providers working towards ending sexualized violence in our community.

Through this collaborative and community-minded approach, our focus is to improve sexual assault community response and services. Through awareness and training initiatives, we are mobilizing to advance real and sustainable social change.

The Harmony Project partners:

YWCA Banff
Bow Valley Addictions and Mental Health – Alberta Health Services
Bow Valley Victims Services Association
Bow Valley Primary Care Network
Banff Mineral Springs Hospital
Canmore General Hospital
Canmore Young Adult Network
Calgary Sexual Assault Response Team
Family and Community Support Services, Canmore
Family and Community Support Services, Banff
Banff Royal Canadian Mounted Police
Canmore Royal Canadian Mounted Police
Right From the Start – Canadian Rockies Public Schools

Core Beliefs

Everyone has the right to live their lives without violence or fear of violence.
Anyone can be a victim of sexual assault.
Sexual assault is about power and control, not intimacy.
Anyone impacted by sexual assault has the right to sensitive, immediate and appropriate care.
Everyone has the capacity and resilience to recover from sexual assault.
Victims of sexual assault are not to blame, and perpetrators must be held accountable.
Sexual assault services need to be delivered in an inclusive, respectful and equitable manner regardless of ethnicity, religion, sex, gender, sexual orientation, mental health or ability.

Thank You

The Harmony Project’s diverse stakeholders through expertise and experience are working together to end sexualized violence in the Bow Valley.

The Harmony Project is funded by the Ministry of Community and Social Services on behalf of the Government of Alberta.

Sexualized Violence is more common than you think:

Just under one in two girls (44%) and one in four boys (24%) in Alberta have experienced child sexual abuse.
Forty-five (45%) percent of adult Albertans have experienced some type of sexual abuse in their lifetime. That’s almost one in every two.

How can you make a difference?

If someone discloses their sexual assault to you, the most important thing you can do is to listen. When someone tells you they have been sexually assaulted:

Believe them.
Tell them it wasn’t their fault.
Offer them your support.
Respect their choices.
Understand that it’s okay if you don’t have all the answers.
Reach out to the Harmony Project at support@ywcabanff.ca or 403-760-3200 if you need guidance.

Be sure to also take care of yourself. After someone has shared their experience with you, you might be feeling sad/angry/overwhelmed and may need to reach out and get some support yourself. The Harmony Project offers specialized services to survivors and those that support them. We’re here for you.

Sexualized violence is preventable

There are steps we can all take to change the way we think about sexual assault and sexual harassment and to stop it from happening.

Be an Active Bystander

Speak up when you hear a person kidding about sexual assault or harassment. Silence can be viewed as agreement. Use these moments as opportunities to help educate people on why these “jokes” normalize sexualized violence. Your voice might influence the way this person (and any present bystander) thinks. If survivors are present, this is also a way to express empathy and support.
If you see someone experiencing sexual harassment, ask them if they need help. If the situation is physically dangerous, call the police. Get others to help you intervene, or distract the perpetrator so the victim can get away (it’s about stopping the situation from becoming violent).

Ask for Consent in Every Day Life and in Intimate Relationships

Promote consent culture by always asking for consent before you do something to someone else. This includes your children, and it also applies to situations when you assume the person will say yes.
If you want to hug someone or send them a sexy photo, ask first.
Stop when you are told to stop. Respect their decision.
Do not insist that someone try a bite of food if they do not want to.
Do not tickle someone who does not want to be tickled.

Make a Donation

Funding from supporters and the government makes it possible for the Harmony Project to provide ongoing training and support services to respond to sexualized violence in the Bow Valley.

Donate now

Why is Consent Important?

Consent is central to the topic of sexualized violence because it occurs when consent is absent. Only 33% of Canadians know what sexual consent means, so it is important that you understand, seek and demonstrate consent in your daily life.

Consent is an enthusiastic “yes”.
Silence, avoiding eye contact, and responses like, “Maybe later”, “Not tonight”, “Let’s go to sleep instead” and “Ummmmm…” All mean NO!
Sexual consent can’t exist if someone is incapacitated by substances, if power or authority are used to influence sexual activity, or if someone is experiencing pressure or coercion.
It is the responsibility of the person initiating sexual activity to seek consent,
Consent can be revoked at any time, for any reason.

Resources

The Harmony Project Survivor Guide is an information guide for victims of sexual assault in the Bow Valley and their support people.

Everyday Consent

During Sexual Violence Awareness Month we asked community members to share ways they practice everyday consent.

Consent is something that is practiced every day! It’s the foundation for all positive relationships and interactions whether they are sexual or not.

#LetTheTruthTalk is a response to the harmful false truths about sexual violence that are often shared across social media platforms. These myths prevent victims from speaking out, seeking help and holding perpetrators responsible for the assault. Getting the facts and dismantling these myths are an important step in ending sexual violence, and finding ways to best support survivors of sexual violence.

Download our Social Media Kit and share across your own social media platforms.

“Sexual Assault” Brochure

Download

Community Training

Stay tuned for more announcements on community training opportunities. If you have an questions, please get in touch with Marisha, the Harmony Project Coordinator at marisha@ywcabanff.ca

Upstander Training

Objectives for this training include.

Recognize sexual violence culture & its’ impacts⁠
Define consent⁠
Safely practice bystander intervention techniques⁠
Apply an understanding of compassionate care with yourself and others⁠

All attendees will receive a certificate of completion following the training.⁠

Upcoming Training Date: Tuesday, December 17, 2024, 9:30 AM – 12:30 PM. Click here for details and registration.

Training for Youth

The Harmony Project offers developmentally appropriate workshops in schools or community settings exploring concepts of healthy relationships and consent. Program is flexible can be delivered as a one-time workshop or part of an on-going series. Please contact us to discuss the specific needs of your setting and options available.

Contact us to discuss the program that will best suit your business/organization.

Help us shape a safe, inclusive community that empowers women and girls.

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Creating Community Connections.

The Harmony Project

Sexualized violence prevention and response in the Bow Valley

We’re here for you.

What Is Sexualized Violence?

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