These shoes were made for walking
Shannon LeClair
Times Reporter
The steady clomp of high heels could be heard through the streets of Gleichen as dozens of men walked a mile in high heels. It was the first time the Strathmore Regional Victim Services Society has hosted a Walk a Mile in Her Shoes event, and it was every bit the success they had hoped it would be.
“Absolutely fantastic. The weather was great, 36 men in red high heel shoes, rough estimate just over $10,000 in pledges…so we’re absolutely ecstatic,” said Lesley Hering, program coordinator for the society.
“The community awareness is huge, that’s the reason we’re doing it, but the funds are always appreciated. So (it was) a great success, I hope that the guys had fun.”
“I have a lot of respect for women who wear high heels, I’m not sure why they do it after this,” said Strathmore-Brooks MLA Jason Hale who also took part in the event.
This was the second time Hale has donned high heels to bring awareness to victims of sexual abuse and violence.
“It’s a good cause, its too bad we have to have these types of (events) and bring awareness to these issues, but it’s something that’s important to the communities and I’m happy to help out and take part whenever I can,” said Hale.
Joe Campbell with Calgary Communities Against Sexual Abuse (CCASA) says that issues like sexualized violence continue to perpetuate because they are still silent issues and once the conversations start change can begin to happen.
“I’m such a huge fan of events like these. Any place where people can come who don’t deal with violence or talk about violence on a day to day basis and see that people getting together to talk about this is actually quite hopeful and the starting place for change,” said Campbell.
“I got involved (with CCASA) basically because I knew that it was quite strange for a man to be involved in this work, but I really see this as a human rights issue and that women and men are both being oppressed by men’s violence. I want to step up and speak out against that,”
Walking a mile in high heels was tough, but for the Strathmore Fire Department Fire Chief Muir Furzer it was fun, and brought him the awareness that organizers were striving to achieve.
“I think the event is an absolutely wonderful way to show and promote to everybody the issues that face women and violence,” said Furzer.
“I think being part of this experience today actually opened my eyes up to how many people are concerned about this type of situation and I think it should be carried on every year now, it just starts out small and eventually we’ll get bigger and bigger.”
A portion of the funds raised will remain with Victim Services to be used for future training or sexual assault victim expenses, such as hotel rooms, or clothing. Another portion will be donated at a later date to Calgary Communities Against Sexual Abuse.