The Alberta government is investing nearly $21 million to increase access to specialized supports for people impacted by sexual violence and abuse, a provincial minister said during a recent roundtable.

Of that funding, $17 million is going to 15 sexual assault centres and the Association of Alberta Sexual Assault Services.

Another $3.7 million in annual funding is going to eight child advocacy centres across Alberta. The funding announcement was made Aug. 13.
However, none of the 15 sexual assault centres receiving funding are located in Slave Lake.

Slave Lake does have local support for people experiencing family violence and domestic abuse through the Northern Haven Support Society, which operates the community’s women’s emergency shelter.

The Alberta government lists Northern Haven as the women’s shelter serving Slave Lake.
Northern Haven operates a 10-bed emergency shelter for women, with or without children, who are fleeing abuse. The society also provides community services and outreach, including safety planning, assistance navigating the justice system, court accompaniment, referrals and support for people who are experiencing or leaving abusive relationships.
Northern Haven says it has been a resource in the Slave Lake community since 1996, while its current women’s emergency shelter opened in 2009.

The society also provides community outreach and education focused on family violence prevention and healthy relationships.

However, Northern Haven is a family-violence support organization rather than one of the specialized sexual assault centres included in the province’s latest funding announcement.

During a media roundtable on Aug. 27, the Lakeside Leader asked Children and Family Services Minister Searle Turton what options are available for survivors living in Slave Lake and other smaller northern communities without a sexual assault centre, and whether there are plans to improve access to specialized, in-person services.

Turton said he has been to Slave Lake many times and recognizes the community’s location can make accessing services more challenging.

“With my team and with different stakeholders that we have around the province, we’re always looking for ways and gaps that are around the province, to make sure that Albertans can access those services,” he said.

For people living in communities without a physical sexual assault centre, Turton said virtual, telephone and text services are available.

He said counselling services are also changing, with some sexual assault centres now meeting with clients virtually.

“Many sexual assault centres are meeting with clientele over Teams and over Zoom, for example,” Turton said. “And that is an option for the more remote areas.”
Turton said the province continues to speak with community leaders and service providers about gaps across Alberta.

“We’re always having those conversations with community leaders to make sure that no Albertan is left behind,” he said.

Turton did not announce plans for a physical sexual assault centre in Slave Lake during the roundtable. Instead, he said the province is talking with stakeholders receiving the latest funding to determine how they can serve their geographic areas.

“If there are groups that are wanting to step up and fill in areas in their respective communities, I’m more than willing to have those conversations and see what services they can offer,” he said.

Turton said Albertans should be able to access support regardless of whether their community has a physical sexual assault centre or emergency family violence shelter.

“Regardless where you live in the province, regardless if you have a physical location of a sexual assault centre or an emergency family violence shelter in your area, you will receive access to supports,” he said.

According to the provincial news release, sexual assault centres provide services for people of all ages impacted by sexual violence, ranging from crisis response and counselling to long-term therapeutic care.

Child advocacy centres provide coordinated, multidisciplinary support for children and youth impacted by abuse or neglect.

The 15 sexual assault centres receiving funding include organizations in communities such as Grande Prairie, Fort McMurray, Edmonton, Bonnyville, Red Deer and Calgary.
None are located in Slave Lake.

Julia Magsombol

Lakeside Leader