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Stepping Up

What makes a healthy relationship?

According to the National College Health Assessment Survey (Warthe & Tutty, 2013), approximately one in three Mount Royal students has experienced some form of dating violence. As you explore this site and when you are involved in Stepping Up, you’ll see that relationship violence can come in many shapes and forms. Click here to learn more about the different kinds of relationship violence and abuse.


Stepping Up is a research-based program that focuses on the prevention of dating violence. Stepping Up isn’t about instructors or other faculty members lecturing students about dating violence. The program is designed by students, for students. We recruit students to facilitate the Stepping Up program because we know that students are an expert in their own experiences and can have the greatest impact on the MRU community.

"It may seem like an exaggeration when I say that being a peer facilitator in Stepping Up changed my life, but I assure you it isn't...the energy during the weekends that facilitators met was incredible...the learning about myself, and those I was sharing space with was simply amazing."

Tiffany
Stepping Up Peer Facilitator


"I did not know what to expect going into the Stepping Up Program for the first time, but I left with a newfound appreciation and understanding of myself and my relationships and the influence of the Stepping Up Program on the campus culture of Mount Royal University."

Katie
Stepping Up Participant, Peer Facilitator and 2015-2017 Program Coordinator


How can I be involved?

Peer Facilitators are individuals who are passionate about talking to their peers about healthy relationships and preventing dating violence in the community. Peer facilitators will:

  • Need to commit to the dates for development/training opportunities, which are as follows:
  • Peer facilitator development weekend #1 (Saturday, Oct. 20th, 2018)
  • Peer facilitator development weekend #2 (Saturday, Nov. 24th, 2018)
  • Peer facilitator development weekend #3 (Saturday, Jan. 19th, 2019)
  • Stepping Up weekend (Friday evening, Jan. 25th, 2019 and Saturday, Jan. 26th, 2019)
  • Gain understanding and knowledge about dating, domestic and sexual violence as it pertains specifically to University students.
  • Increase group facilitation skills and understanding of how to develop and implement program curriculum. 
  • Gain confidence to become a leader in striving for a violence-free campus!
  • Get volunteer/ practicum hours.
2018/2019 Peer facilitator applications are now closed; however, you can still join us in January 2019 as a participant.

Stepping Up 2019 will take place on Jan. 25/26, 2019 (Friday evening and all day Saturday). To register for the 2019 Stepping Up Weekend Workshop, fill out this short form today!

Participants of Stepping Up 2019 will:
  • Gain a deeper understanding of dating, domestic and sexual violence as it pertains to University Students.
  • Have the opportunity to develop a University-wide project that shares information about dating, domestic and sexual violence.
  • Connect with students, faculty and community agencies that are passionate about issues surrounding dating, domestic and sexual violence with University Students.
  • Join together with your fellow students and engage in conversations and activities that will help you promote healthy relationships for yourself and your peers!
  • Get volunteer/ practicum hours!
"I am proud to have been a part of the Stepping Up Program and I know that it has changed my own life and the lives of friends, family and strangers with whom I have come in contact."

Katie
Stepping Up Participant, Peer Facilitator, and 2015-2017 Program Coordinator

This program has a research component that has received clearance from the MRU Human Research Ethics Board HREB at hreb@mtroyal.ca.

The information provided on this web page is intended for the Mount Royal community: students, staff, and faculty.

Many thanks to the Government of Alberta, Ministry of Human Services for continued funding of the Stepping Up project.

If you have any questions or would like more information about anything on this page, please contact steppingup@mtroyal.ca.