How We’re Making a Difference

At SACE, we're focused on the impact we're making on the lives of people who have experienced sexual violence, and on contributing to healthier communities. This section of our 2023-2024 Annual Impact Report features highlights of how we're making a difference, from professional, evidence-informed education and support to community development and engagement initiatives.

Professional, Evidence-Informed Services

Support and Information Line

Adult Counselling

Two Beanbag Chairs Angled Towards Each Other And Surrounded By Small Therapeutic Toys Suggest The Friendly Feel Of Child And Youth Counselling Services At SACE

Child and Youth Counselling

Group Counselling

Police and Court Support

Public Education

Institutional Support

Across Public Education programs:

“If I were to receive a disclosure of sexual violence and needed support and/or resources, I would reach out to SACE”

0 %

“SACE content is effective”

0 %

“SACE staff are effective”

0 %

Across Counselling programs:

“My counsellor let me know that I am not alone"

0 %

“My counsellor listened respectfully and took me seriously"

0 %

“I use the skills I gained in group”

0 %

Program Data & Evaluation

In early 2024, our Community Engagement department began using a new, customizable online scheduling, relationship, and data management platform called CiviCRM. Moving forward, this platform will store all our evaluation and activities data. Having more and better data will help us to more accurately capture the important tasks that go into delivering effective, tailored, professional sexual assault services; activities like content development, presentation preparation, consultation provision, outcomes evaluation, community development, committee work, and more.

Accompanying this change were a number of updates we made to our evaluation processes to ensure they more closely align with our program logic models and intended outcomes while streamlining and aligning measures across the agency. Our Clinical department is working on moving to this system in the near future.

Tailored solutions to support professionals across a range of sectors in their efforts to address sexual violence.

Preventing and Responding to Sexual Violence for Health & Medical Colleges

Consent in the Workplace: Preventing and Responding to Sexual Violence for Small Businesses

Arts & Nightlife Sector Tailored Consultation and Education

Policing and Legal Sector Collaborations and Cross-Trainings

Responsive, Multi-Pronged, and Innovative Solutions for the Education Sector

Collaborative, Customized Education for New Professionals and Students Across a Range of Sectors and Professions

“Thank you for believing in [the client], and for supporting her throughout this process. This was a challenging case on many fronts. The dedication and care you provided to [the client] was outstanding. I do not think we would have received the judgment we did, or even had the opportunity to have the trial we did, without your work. Our goal was always to have [the client] testify without sacrificing her health or her life. This conviction is an important validation of what happened to her, but the major accomplishment is that she was given and was able to take advantage of the opportunity to testify in court. She held [the Accused] accountable for what he did to her. And so did the system. This was an important case to me and it is an important reminder that we can make a difference. And sometimes, we really do work in a criminal justice system, and not just a legal system.”

Alberta Crown Prosecutor

Ask for permission before taking a picture of someone This can include sharing someone's picture and tagging them on social media. Always check int o see if it's okay with that person.

Don't force a discussion someone doesn't want to have. Ask before you vent or tell a story about a potentially triggering situation.

Ask for consent before non-sexual forms of touch. "Can I give you a hug?" "Is it okay if I hold your hand?"

Ask before borrowing something from a friend. No matter what your relationship is with someone, it's always best to ask first.

Don't reveal personal information about anyone with their permission. It's never okay to reveal someone's sexual orientation if they aren't out or to reveal that someone has experienced sexual violence without their permission.

We should never assume anyone is okay with anything, whether that's taking a photo of someone, borrowing a friend's sweater, or sharing someone's personal information.

One way to minimize unwanted experiences is to ask for consent whenever we can, beyond our sexual experiences.

When people don't feel pressured or forced into situations they didn't consent to, they feel empowered to make decisions about their own bodies and their lives.

Reference "7 ways to practice consent outside of the bedroom" Everyday Feminism (blog), November 5, 2015

Engaging Men & Boys in Gender Justice

The WiseGuyz team continues their partnership and involvement with Next Gen Men, supporting the new program Pathways for Engaging Men & Boys in Gender Justice. This new community builds a bridge between academic research and leaders in communities to increase the number of men doing gender justice work where they live, work, play, and worship.

SACE has a WiseGuyz team member on this committee to represent the program, and this year one of our facilitators spoke on a panel with attendees from across Canada about WiseGuyz as a promising practice to engaging young men in gender-based violence prevention.

Improving Outcomes

of children demonstrated a reduction in trauma symptoms

0 %

of adult counselling clients experienced reduced trauma symptoms

0 %

of group counselling clients reported feeling more in control of their life and emotions

0 %

of education participants learned something new on a topic related to sexual violence

0 %

of education participants were able to identify consent versus problematic behaviours or abuse

0 %

of people supported across counselling and education programs felt they had a greater understanding of the impacts of sexual violence

0 %

Outreach

In 2023-2024 SACE built connections, provided resources and tailored services, served on committees, and consulted and collaborated with 41 groups and organizations across Alberta and beyond.

Post-SecondarySupport Story

In the early fall of 2023, the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology’s (NAIT) new Gender-Based and Sexual Violence Prevention and Education Coordinator contacted us to create and facilitate customized sessions on providing trauma-informed responses to sexual violence.

Our team consolidated feedback we received from past sessions and NAIT staff preferences when crafting each customized presentation. We facilitated four tailored sessions for diverse groups of NAIT staff, including 40 NAIT protective services staff, 25 student services staff, and 12 human resources staff.

The sessions were successful, with several participants indicating that these sessions were the first time they had encountered concepts such as intersectionality and trauma-informed responses. The Coordinator was also happy, and in early 2024, they reached out again asking our team to facilitate two more sessions for a variety of NAIT staff across many student service programs.

“SACE facilitators are very knowledgeable while being approachable, taking a challenging subject and skillfully supporting participants through the learning process. They excel at making space for meaningful conversations while delivering practical skills our staff can use in their day-to-day work. Consistently, our staff leave SACE’s training feeling more knowledgeable about sexual violence and better skilled to respond to related concerns that may arise in their work. SACE’s willingness to adapt their educational content to reflect our organizational needs and the specific situations our staff navigate ensures the training is relevant. Overall, SACE’s public education team is well-organized and responsive, making the process of educating our staff convenient and straightforward. I would highly recommend SACE to any group looking to expand their knowledge and skills in recognizing and responding to sexual violence.”

NAIT Gender Based and Sexual Violence Prevention and Education Coordinator

How You Are Making a Difference

SACE is supported by an incredible network of stakeholders and community members committed to addressing sexual violence. Without the contributions of our staff, volunteers, board members, community partners, funders, donors, and so many caring Edmontonians, we simply could not do the work that we do.

Learning how to take action

learned about resources people can access for help

0 %

learned something new about how to support someone

0 %

Providing support

people volunteered on the support lines

of group counselling participants reported feeling the people in their group understood what they are going through

0 %

Supporting SACE

This year, organizations and community members showed up for SACE in a big way. Major fundraisers for our 2023-2024 year included the Heavy Hockey Showdown 2024, Oilers Girls Night, and Bloom Cookie Co.’s annual Cookiegrams campaign. Twenty-six fundraisers raised money for SACE on Facebook and Instagram, and many people donated recyclables through SkipTheDepot and gave to the SACE Library, in addition to supporting our agency’s capital campaign, Moving to the Centre.

people threw Facebook and Instagram fundraisers to support SACE

Volunteer Awards

In January 2024, SACE recognized some of our brilliant volunteers at our annual volunteer awards night.

We were also incredibly proud of SACE volunteer Tracy P. for winning an Alberta Blue Cross Community Wellbeing grant. Tracy was one of 75 people selected for this well-deserved award that recognizes volunteers making a difference and the charitable organizations with which they volunteer.

Elizabeth R. was presented with the Rick Chalifoux / Jean Gauthier Memorial Volunteer of the Year Award, in honour of two SACE volunteers who worked on the crisis lines and fundraising.
Mak M. won the Sprout Award, presented to the volunteer with the most growth and development in their first year of volunteering.
Tessa H., Theresa M., Carolise B., Lauren T., Meagan S., Rowena D., David S., and Bel B. were recipients of Roots Awards, presented to any volunteer who reaches five or more years of active service with SACE.

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