A Safer Space

CURRENT EVENTS

Upcoming Community Event Dates

Tuesday March 1st, 2011

Prince George, BC | 2:00-4:30pm
SOLOS presentation for parents and professionals (YAP Friends 1148 – 7th Ave)

Monday March 7th, 2011

Chilliwack, BC | 7-9pm
SOLOS presentation for parents and public (Chilliwack City Hall 8850 Young Road)

Wednesday March 9th, 2011

Maple Ridge, BC | 6:15pm-9pm
Candle light walk and SOLOS presentation for parents and public (Memorial Peace Park & Greg Moore Youth Centre)

Surrey, BC | 6:00pm
Candle light gathering with guest speakers for public (North Surrey Recreation Centre 10275 135th Street)

Prince George, BC | 10am-12/Noon
“Community Feud” game for public. Teams competing to answer question about sexual exploitation of youth. (YAP Friends 1148 – 7th Ave)

Thursday March 10th, 2011

Vancouver, BC | 6:00-9:30pm
Presentation and viewing of film “Think Again” by PEERS Vancouver, and SOLOS presentation for parents and public

Chilliwack, BC | 7-9pm
Children of the Street: TCO2 presentation for public (G.W. Graham School 45955 Thomas Rd)

Sunday March 13th, 2011

Burnaby, BC | 12:30pm
5K Run 2 Raise Awareness of Sexually Exploited Youth. (Start: Central Park Burnaby Finish: Swanguard Stadium)

More information on these events is available on the Ministry of Public Safety website.

PAST EVENTS

Candle Light Walk and Movie Screening – March 3, 2010

Over 75 people gathered on Wednesday March 3 in Memorial Peace Park, Maple Ridge, for a candle light walk to raise awareness on the issue of child and youth sexual exploitation. All those who came out were given a candle, fuchsia ribbons and bracelets to wear as a symbol of awareness and hope. A brief presentation was made on behalf of the Ridge Meadows Community Action Team about recognizing this issue and supporting our community to develop prevention, and education strategies to address these concerns. Following the walk, attendees were welcomed to come in for pizza, refreshments and door prizes at the Greg Moore Youth Centre. A movie screening of the film, “Very Young Girls” was presented at 7:00pm

Very Young Girls is a documentary film that chronicles the journey of young women through the underground world of sexual exploitation in New York City. The film follows the girls in real time, showing intimate interviews with the girls both when they are still working and when in recovery. Very Young Girls tells the story of girls who spend their teenage years being recruited and brainwashed by predatory pimps, bought and sold on the street, sent to jail, and then recovering from the trauma of sexual exploitation.

Special thanks to the staff at the Greg Moore Youth Centre and all the donors who graciously provided fantastic door prizes! Download the event poster.

Child Exploitation: Awareness, Intervention, and Enforcement – March 8, 2010

A one day forum was held at the Justice Institute of BC, in New Westminster, on March 8 and was presented by the BC Criminal Justice Association in partnership with the Vancouver Community Action Team and PLEA Community Services Society of BC. The forum was a free event and was open to all MCFD and local community service providers and professionals in order to learn more about the intervention and enforcement of protecting our children and youth from sexual exploitation.

The day was filled with many local and experienced community professionals, and presentations included: SOLOS (Safe Online Outreach Society), Children of the Street and TCO2 (Taking Care of Ourselves, Taking Care of Others), PEERS Vancouver as well as a Member of the VPD Vice Squad. The day closed with a panel discussion from an esteemed group of professionals who work closely with the issues of sexual exploitation for children and youth and included: Karen Zilke (MCFD Social Worker Car Y20), Sandra Cunningham (Crown Counsel) and Brian Sanders (VPD VICE Squad).

The event was a great success and proved to be very informative and beneficial for those who attended as information booths of local community groups, agencies and organizations were on display and allowed for networking and information sharing. Many thanks again to all those who participated as well as the BCCJA and JI Presidents! Download the invitation.

Onyx 3K Run - Tuesday March 3rd, 2009

Even the rain and mud couldn't stop over 40 students from various Vancouver Alternate School Programs from running for a good cause. Students from the Genesis Programs, StreetFront and Tupper Secondary all came out to help raise awareness about sexual exploitation of youth. Healthy lifestyles was the focus and each participant wrote a personal goal before embarking on the 3km fun run. Some people ran and some people walked, but in the end, we were all beneficiaries. All students were presented a gift bag with a T-shirt, DVD, pens and a certificate of participation from the Onyx Program. Special thanks to Bob Boucher and Steve Lutes for their hard work in organizing and promoting the event and producing the materials.

A Safer Space Youth Forum - Wednesday March 4th, 2009

The second annual "A Safer Space" Youth Forum was held in beautiful Magee Secondary School's theatre. Attendance was strong for the second year in a row, with noteable contributions from the Sunshine Coast (25), and Chilliwack (15).

After a warm welcoming song and prayer from aboriginal elder, Sam George participants were treated to fantastic presentations by SOLOS (Safe Online Outreach Society) www.safeonlineoutreach.com, PEERS Vancouver www.quammer.dreamhosters.com TCO2 (Taking Care of Ourselves, Taking Care of Others) www.childrenofthestreet.com.

The forum also featured the world premiere of the latest Onyx Music Project installment, "We Were Built To Last" by Dani&Lizzy.

This was a free event brought to you on behalf of the VCAT (Vancouver Community Action Team Against the Sexual Exploitation of Youth). Download the poster (pdf 743 KB).

Special thanks to Magee Secondary School, and to all of the youth who worked at the event, and on the music project. For more information please contact the Onyx Program at onyx@plea.bc.ca.