By examining challenges students experience in all stages of dating and relationships, participants complete four modules developed by peer facilitators: 

1. Bystander Intervention 
2. Sexual Relationships 
3. Healthy Relationships 
4. Media in Relationships

Following the workshop, students form groups to create a community prevention project showcased virtually during the week of March 8th- 12th, 2021.

Community prevention projects can include anything from... 

• creating a social media campaign 
• organizing an awareness event on campus 
• developing a relationship violence prevention display on mainstreet
• making an art piece that highlights key messages about relationship violence prevention 
• ... or anything else your group thinks is relevant for MRU students to know about relationship violence prevention! 

Participant groups are supported by the Stepping Up Program Coordinator, Peer Facilitators and Faculty Members to come up with ideas and organize logistics. 

This is a chance to get creative and identify your specific areas of interest relating to awareness of healthy, unhealthy and abusive behaviours! 

Stepping Up Peer Facilitators contribute to a variety of prevention programming, including workshops, events and online initiatives. Topics include Healthy Relationships, Sexual Relationships, Media in Relationships, and Bystander Intervention. Peer Facilitators create modules for the Stepping Up workshop and support participants developing community projects, while contributing to awareness-raising campaigns on campus.

Commitment: 2-4 hours every two weeks

Training Requirement: Training requirement fulfilled during bi-weekly meetings. 

Recruitment Period: March-September

As a Peer Facilitator you will...

1. Participate in a year-long program, beginning in September and ending in April
2. Attend the scheduled dates for development training opportunities
3. Participate in monthly team meetings and/or events 
4. Develop and deliver informative workshops and events 
5. Support Stepping Up participants in developing and delivering prevention projects 
6. Contribute to a variety of prevention programming, including workshops, events and online initiatives 

Benefits

• Peer facilitators who remain committed to the Stepping Up program in its entirety for the academic year receive an honorarium at the end of March 
• Develop skills in dating, domestic and sexual violece prevention, and contribute to a safer campus community 
• Gain further understanding and knowledge of dating, domestic and sexual violence as it pertains to university students 
• Increase group facilitation skills
• Increase understanding of how to develop and implement program curriculum
• Receive several different trainings, including responding to disclosures of sexual assault, and group facilitation 
• Certificate of participation
• Become recognized as a Mount Royal University Student Leader through the Leadership Model
• May gain volunteer or practicum hours (check with your program advisor to determine eligibility)

Applications are now closed for the 2021-2022 academic year. Please watch this space for information about the 2022-2023 school year. 

For more information on the Stepping Up Program, please email Katie Wotherspoon at kwotherspoon@mtroyal.ca. 

The 2022 Stepping Up Workshop has ended. Please join us for the Community Fair March 15, 16, 17. More information to come. 

Email the Stepping Up Coordinator, Katie Wotherspoon at kwotherspoon@mtroyal.ca for questions or more information. 

Students will participate in 4 modules all developed and presented by fellow students:

• Healthy Relationships
• Bystander Interventions
• Healthy Sexual Relationships
• Gender & Media 

Workshop Learning Objectives

Students who attend the virtual Stepping Up Workshop will be able to...

• effectively analyze behaviours associated with healthy, unhealthy and abusive relationships 
• raise awareness of how to prevent unhealthy and abusive behaviours in dating and relationships 
• identify their role in providing informal support to those experiencing, or who have experienced, dating violence 
• identify when consent can and cannot be given
• assess how social media influences relationship behaviours 
• name resources on campus and in the community for those experiencing, or who have experienced, dating violence

Stepping Up participants have the opportunity to learn from their peers in the workshop sessions, before creating a community project in small groups to showcase the insights they gained!

Participation is voluntary and you can withdraw your consent to participate at any time. You may participate in the workshop without completing the research component if you choose.Stepping Up will be hosted online due to the Covid-19 pandemic. This project has received clearance from the MRU Human Resarch Ethics Board (HREB) at hreb@mtroyal,ca. 

MRU Researchers: 

Dr. Gaye Warthe 403-440-6441 or gwarthe@mtroyal.ca 

Dr. Cathy Carter-Snell 403-440-6679 or ccartersnell@mtroyal.ca 

The Stepping Up Program hosts a variety of mainstreet and on-campus events throughout the year. These events are intended to increase education of healthy, unhealthy and abusive behaviours in dating and relationships on campus. 

Please check back for more information on upcoming events, or follow @mrulivewell on instagram to keep up with Stepping Up and Wellness Services initiatives! 

Have an idea for a prevention event? Email Katie Wotherspoon at kwotherspoon@mtroyal.ca to see how we can collaborate!