When residents, dignitaries and community supporters strap on their red footwear for the Walk a Mile in Their Shoes event next weekend, they'll do so amid increased social tension around the people it's meant to support.
With intimate partner violence being declared an epidemic last month by the city and Region of Waterloo and protests like the 1 Million March for Children taking to public spaces across the country, the event comes at an important time says YWCA Cambridge CEO Kim Decker.
"I think it fits nicely with all municipalities that recently declared intimate partner violence an epidemic," Decker said.
"What we're seeing in schools with the kids we're working with is a heightened sense of anxiety and fear. Given the current climate, this event is important to bring attention to the issue."
As the federal government is in the midst of a National Action Plan to End Gender-based Violence and signing bilateral agreements with the provinces, the Ontario government has yet to release its framework.
According to the Government of Canada website, there are five pillars to the plan, including support for victims, survivors, and their families, prevention, a responsive justice system, implementing Indigenous-led approaches and social infrastructure and enabling environment.
For Decker, the most important pillar is the second. Prevention is rooted in the work the YWCA Cambridge does in supporting cis and trans women and girls and non-binary and two-spirit individuals, and Ontario needs to make it a priority in its plan, she says.
When it comes to the protests and marches happening around the country, Decker isn't interested in debating with people, stating the organization's message is clear and straight forward.
"We're always most concerned with the folks impacted by these kinds of things," she said.
"We believe everyone has the right to live a life as they choose. It's important to create opportunities and entry points for youth to talk about how they're feeling and how to build healthy relationships."
Acknowledging no community is perfect in how it deals with these issues, Decker points to a lack of core funding as a significant barrier for her team.
Aside from a Trillium grant from the provincial government, most of YWCA Cambridge's funding comes from local foundations, organization-led fundraising initiatives and individual donations. Local support from businesses like Meridian Credit Union, Toyota and Sobeys has been instrumental in backing the work that it does.
As Decker prepare for Walk a Mile in Their Shoes, she hopes the community will join in on helping spread the word and play an active role in ending gender-based violence.
"What's important to know is gender-base violence touches every part of society, from families and women to youth," she said.
"It's really important that we get the message out and it has to be more consistent. We all have a part to play."
