More than 100 men slipped on a pair of high heels and walked around Collingwood on Saturday to raise awareness for domestic abuse.
“It is positive, it is supportive,” said participant Alan Pratt. “By willingly getting into these shoes and walking through your community with basically a flag and going ‘Hey, we’re in this together’ that’s what’s so neat about this. It’s not a silent auction; it’s a loud, loud display of the community. It’s awesome.”
Alison Fitzgerald of ‘My Friend’s House’, Southern Georgian Bay’s only safe haven for abused women and their children, says the event is a big reminder that this isn’t just a women’s problem.
“It gets men engaged in the conversation. Too often domestic violence is talked about as a women’s issue and it really is a community issue. It affects both men and women equally.”
Heather Gilchrist, who was one of the 600 women who seek shelter every year, says resources like ‘My Friend’s House’ are invaluable.
“When you leave your situation, you don’t have anywhere to go. You don’t have the resources to start your life back all over again and you literally are starting your life all over again. They’re able to help you financially, there’s a safety there, there’s counselling to get you through, it’s very emotional.”
Event organizers say that while the number of domestic abuse cases hasn’t lowered, women are getting about of abusive relationships sooner because they have support from the community and places like My Friend’s House.
The ‘Walk a Mile in her Shoes’ event raised over $32,000 this year.
