In September 2017 I gave birth to my son. In October #metoo went viral and was all over social media feeds and news reports after a decade in the making—since Tarana Burke, a Bronx-based civil rights activist, coined the phrase in 2006. It made for a difficult October. I was postpartum, breastfeeding around the clock […]
Sexual Violence
Posted inNews + Opinion
Complaints against judge Lenehan dismissed
Formal complaints against the provincial judge now known for the phrase “Clearly a drunk can consent” have been dismissed. The independent review found no evidence of “judicial misconduct” in Justice Gregory Lenehan’s conduct during his acquittal of Halifax taxi driver Bassam al-Rawi on charges of sexual assault. That 2017 case drew widespread national coverage, public […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
UPDATED: Labi Kousoulis refuses to meet with student activists on sexual violence
Kousoulis’ sent a response to the CFS letter just before end of business Monday afternoon. The relevant section is now quoted below. The Canadian Federation of Students says the Department of Labour and Advanced Education is attempting to “silence students and survivors” because of an opinion piece first published in The Coast. In an open […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
Liberals pay lip service to feminism while failing survivors on campus, again.
As I sat in the gallery of the provincial legislature and heard Patricia Arab, MLA from Fairview-Clayton Park, paying lip service to feminist ideals while simultaneously arguing against legislation that students have been demanding for years, I felt sick. On the eve of International Women’s Day, the Liberal government had once again stonewalled legislation that […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
Today I saw justice, if only for a moment
Today I watched a young woman show up, prepared to testify about the atrocities that have happened at the hands of trash bags, abusers, modern day slave traders. Today I watched as a brave young woman stepped forward to speak out about Halifax’s “dirty little secret.” Today I saw this same woman prepare to stand […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
Province announces expanded services to address sexual assaults
While hundreds gathered at Grand Parade to protest a Nova Scotia judge’s comments that “clearly, a drunk can consent,” the province quietly announced several new initiatives it says will support survivors of sexual assault as they navigate through the justice system. The new services include the hiring of two special prosecutors to handle sexual assault […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
Sexual harassment in the service industry
Working in food and beverage for eight years means that from a young age I was exposed to sexual harassment and sexual assault. I was made to feel that the gain and devotion of a customer mattered much more than the concerns and protection of an employee. Women are brought up hearing that we should […]