HALIFAX — A Halifax sexual assault centre has become the first in Canada to crowdfund online, saying a string of high-profile cases has tripled wait times for some services.
"If government is not able to increase the funding that they're providing to us, we need to come up with other solutions to address the growing need," said Jackie Stevens, executive director of the Avalon Sexual Assault Centre.
The city's lone sexual assault centre is underresourced and overburdened, she said, even with support from the Nova Scotia government's $6-million sexual violence initiative announced last year.
The centre said it saw an increase in demand following former broadcaster Jian Ghomeshi's acquittal on sex assault charges last month, as it had after the 2013 death of teenager Rehtaeh Parsons.
"Any time there's been a high-profile case, that has increased people contacting us for services," Stevens said. "More people in the community are taking a stand, recognizing that it is a serious and systemic and social issue."
Parsons was taken off life support after attempting suicide when a photo of what her family says was a sexual assault was circulated around her school. The case inspired the Nova Scotia government to launch its first sustained initiative against sexual violence.
Stevens said this push was mirrored by a demand for Avalon's services, with wait times for some services increasing from five to 16 months.
Conceived in partnership with students at Mount Saint Vincent University, the online fundraiser coincides with Sexual Assault Awareness month, with a goal of raising $10,000 by the end of May.
"It allows us to engage the community," Stevens said. "We hear a lot about predators using social media and the Internet as ways to target people and to victimize them. We have seen an increase in people using social media in politicized and pro-active ways as well."
Avalon aims not only to support survivors but also "promote systemic and social change."
Stevens said Avalon's sexual assault nurse examiner program, which provides forensic examinations to recent victims, has seen the highest numbers this year in its history.
According to its 2014-2015 annual report, Avalon received 300 new requests for counselling services last year, the second highest since the program began in 1996.
