A Touch of Sexual Assault

Nova Scotia launches next phase of

sexual violence strategy

"A Touch of Sexual Assault,"

As part of an announcement on funding the province is providing to groups to fight sexual violence, 14-year-old Kayley Dixon read "A Touch of Sexual Assault," a powerful and troubling poem she wrote about what it's like being a teen girl today. Dixon is involved in one of the groups that received funding.

Video is 3 minutes long:

$250,000 to 11 community groups fighting sexual violence

By Nina Corfu, CBC News 

Eleven community groups received grants aimed at fighting sexual violence at the Northbrook Community Centre in Dartmouth today. (Jeorge Sadi/CBC)

Nova Scotia's community services minister launched the next phase of the province's sexual violence strategy Monday, announcing more than $250,000 for 11 community groups, with the goal of preventing sexual violence and supporting survivors.

Joanne Bernard said an additional $600,000 will be made available again in the fall, for a total investment of more than $1.2 million over two years.

Since the sexual violence strategy began two years ago, the province has spent $1.25 million on community grants, provided 211 and 811 phone operators with special training, and struck an interdepartmental committee aimed at streamlining government policies related to sexual violence.

A public awareness campaign is expected to be launched this fall.


Master of ceremonies Robyn Gorman runs a program through the Avalon Sexual Assault Centre that aims to prevent violence against women and girls in North Dartmouth. (Jeorge Sadi/CBC)

Bernard announced the latest grant recipients at the Northbrook Community Centre in Dartmouth on Monday.

They are:

Youth Art Connection, Youth Arts Leadership project, $22,250

Avalon Sexual Assault Centre, Strong and Safer Together Project, $50,000

Alex Coley and Cameron Ure, Campus Sexual Violence Prevention training, $4,954

Centre for Housing and Residence Life, Saint Mary's University, SMU Residence Consent Project, $2,500

Central Nova Women's Centre, Engaging Youth in a Violence Free Future project, $5,000

Northern AIDS Connection Society, LookOUT Photovoice project, $12,000

Music Liberatory, Women Safe and Sound project, $30,000

AIDS Coalition, Totally Outright in Nova Scotia training, $10,000

YWCA, Girls Space Zine project, $5,000, and Youth onLine Overcome Violence education, $15,000

Heartwood, Cultivating a Community Network for Working with Boys and Young Men, $50,000​​

Chebucto Connections, Boys Circles/Girls Circles program, $40,000