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. Gender and Media

Following the workshop, participants create projects showcased on campus from March 6 to March 10, 2023.  

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 relevant for MRU students and the prevention of relationship violence 

Participant groups are supported by the Stepping UP program coordinator, peer facilitators and faculty members to come up with ideas and to organize logistics. 

This is a chance to get creative and to raise awareness about relationship violence prevention and to promote of healthy relationships! 

Femi Akinsanya (she/her) - Education Program Team Lead (Outreach), Calgary Communities Against Sexual Abuse (CCASA)

As the Education Team Lead who supports outreach, community, and clinical education at CCASA, Femi creates and facilitates unique educational opportunities for diverse communities and professionals, develops programming, fosters relationships with stakeholders and community partners, guides the education team, and works directly with senior leadership to ensure the agencies goals are met.  

As a young, 1st generation millennial black woman growing up in Calgary, she has experienced the immense gaps and systematic barriers in various services and sectors locally. As a racialized person, not only has Femi faced the systemic hurdles of Canadian society, but my experiences were compounded with my cultural values, religious affiliations, family, and sense of community. Sexual violence is an incredibly complex topic to broach in racialized and marginalized communities despite its prevalence; for many, sexual violence does not exist in a vacuum. Instead, it combines several other forces and experiences inside and outside families, communities, systems, and institutions.  

Femi is passionate about unearthing communities’ unique experiences regarding gender-based violence, gender equity, and human rights. She does this through a community-centred approach to support, education and advocacy. This approach aids in directing services, agencies, and institutions in bettering and more purposefully serving diverse communities.

For more information, visit: calgarycasa.com

Joe Campbell (he/him) - Leading Change Community Developer, Alberta Council of Women's Shelters

I have been involved in Stepping Up since 2015, beginning as a peer facilitator for three years while I attended MRU. I went on to work in violence prevention with the Alberta Council of Women’s Shelters (ACWS), where I am currently a community developer in Leading Change, which is the call to action of ACWS and a community partner with Stepping Up. Leading Change offers gender-based violence prevention training in communities across the province, working to inspire new ways of thinking in workplaces, schools, government, and sports groups. What I loved about being a peer facilitator is the same thing I love about being a community partner: I get to live my wholehearted belief that change is possible. The potential for change is multiplied when people come together. Men and boys often haven’t seen themselves as part of the conversation about violence prevention, but in my time in Stepping Up, I’ve seen this start to shift. More men than ever before are speaking out against violence, joining with those who have been fighting for this change for so long. Through Stepping Up, I was part of the change in ending violence, and I also found a community of like-minded, passionate people, some of whom are still my best friends to this day. When students come together through programs like Stepping up, change happens.

For more information, visit: acws.ca

James Hueser (he/him) - Sexual Violence Educator, Calgary Communities Against Sexual Abuse (CCASA)

I currently work as a Sexual Violence Educator at CCASA with a focus on engaging men on the topics of sexual violence and gender-based oppression; however, my career has been mostly spent in the environmental consulting/oil and gas industry. After receiving a B.Sc. in Geology from the U of S and working in the industry for 7 years, I started looking at different volunteer opportunities and potentially going back to school for a degree in social work. I became involved with CCASA by volunteering on the Support and Information Line which was a transformative experience for me in many ways and ended up leading me to the role of Educator at CCASA. Within my role I facilitate various presentations to communities and organizations, as well as facilitating workshops specifically for men’s engagement. As someone who grew up privileged and ignorant,  I’m passionate about sharing my experiences of unpacking and dismantling the ways that patriarchy and other systems of oppression have influenced my life.

For more information, visit: calgarycasa.com 

Cari Ionson, M.S.W. (she/her) - Dating, Domestic and Sexual Violence Education and Response Specialist, Mount Royal University (MRU)

Cari Ionson is the Dating, Domestic and Sexual Violence Education and Response Specialist at Mount Royal University. She started with Mount Royal University in 2016 and was the first to be in a role of this kind in Alberta. 

Cari has worked addressing issues of gender-based violence for over a decade and brings an intersectional feminist and trauma informed approach to her work. As a Registered Social Worker, she supports students, staff and faculty who have been impacted by gender-based violence in accessing relevant support and information. Additionally, she works with the institution in addressing the systemic and institutional barriers that exist in the reporting and help-seeking processes. 

A true believer in the power of community, Cari is passionate about working to end gender based violence in collaboration with others. She works with a variety of campus and community stakeholders to develop and implement campus-wide initiatives that respond to and prevent gender-based violence.  

Prior to coming to Mount Royal University, she worked for a variety of domestic violence shelters and sexual assault centres in Alberta and British Columbia, as well as in areas relating to mental health and substance use disorders. 

Cari holds a Bachelor of Arts with a major in Women and Gender Studies and a minor in Indigenous Studies at the University of Victoria, as well as a Bachelor in Social Work. In 2015, Cari completed her Master of Social Work at the University of Calgary with a Clinical Specialization. 

Cari is certified in facilitating the Respoding to Disclosures of Sexual Assault and Sexual Abuse training with the Association of Alberta Sexual Assault Services. She is currently working towards finishing her Comprehensive Hakomi Training with the Hakomi Institute of Calgary.   

Outside of work, Cari can often be found on adventures with her dogs in the mountains; rock climbing, mountain biking, kayaking, or skiing.

Felipe Triana - Healthy Relationship Therapist, FearIsNotLove (formerly Calgary Women's Emergency Shelter)

I am Felipe Triana, a provisional psychologist working as a healthy relationship therapist. Having earned a BSc in Biochemistry, a BA in psychology, and a MA in Counselling Psychology, I work to blend my extensive knowledge in making therapy more effective for youth. I strongly believe that developing healthy relationships is key in building brighter futures for individuals, communities, and society. 

For more information, visit: calgarywomensshelter.com/

Stepping UP Peer Facilitators contribute to a variety of relationship violence prevention programming, including workshops, events and online initiatives. Topics include Healthy Relationships, Sexual Relationships, Gender and Media and Bystander Intervention. Peer facilitators create modules for the Stepping UP workshop series and support participants to develop community projects that contribute to awareness-raising campaigns on campus.

What: 2-4 hours every two weeks

When: Applications will open January 2023

How: Training requirement fulfilled during bi-weekly meetings 

Peer Facilitator commitments and activities:

• Participate in a year-long leadership program 
• Participate in team meetings and events 
• Develop curricula for workshop events and group facilitation
• Support workshop participants in developing prevention projects for the Stepping UP Community Fair 

Benefits: 

• Increased awareness and understanding of relationship violence and prevention
• Potential for volunteer and/or practicum hours (check with your program advisor to determine eligibility)
• Development and training opportunities for: group facilitation, implementation of program curricula, and responding to disclosures of sexual assault 
• Certificate of completion in recognition of being a Mount Royal University Student Leader (want to know more? Check out the MRU Student Leadership Model)

Want in? Applications open in January 2023! 

For more information, please email the Stepping UP Program Coordinator at jrand@mtroyal.ca. 

Worshop Registration is now open!

Space is limited! 

Register Here

What's Involved?
Join us for four modules put together by your fellow MRU students to help you learn about relationships in your life! Topics include:

1. Healthy Relationships
2. Bystander Interventions
3. Sexual Relationships
4. Gender and Media 

Workshop Learning Objectives

When you attend The Annual Stepping UP Program Workshop Series, you can...

• increase your awareness and understanding of what it means to be in a healthy relationship
• learn warning signs of potentially unhealthy or abusive relationships 
• figure out how to help friends and other students impacted by dating and relationship violence
• get a better handle on consent
• take a closer look at how media may influence relationships
• get informed about violence prevention resources on-campus and in the community

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. Stepping UP has received clearance from the MRU Human Resarch Ethics Board (HREB) at hreb@mtroyal,ca. 

Community Fair

Like what you learned in the workshops? Want to expand on your violence prevention knowledge and outreach? Join up with other Stepping UP participants and your Peer Facilitators to create a Stepping UP Community Fair project! 

This year's Stepping UP Community Fair is scheduled for the week of March 6 - 10, 2023! More information to come. 

For more information, email the Stepping UP Program Coordinator, Julia Rand at jrand@mtroyal.ca 

Stepping UP's Primary Researchers

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

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

This year's Annual Stepping UP Program Workshop Series runs:

Wednesday, February 8, 2023 and Wednesday February 15, 2023 from 4:30 to 7:00.

Location: Lincoln Park (J301)

Register Here

The Stepping UP Program Community Fair runs from:

Monday, March 6, 2023 to Friday, March 10, 2023.

Location: This event will be hosted at a variety of locations across campus.

Check back here for more information about upcoming events, or follow @mrulivewell on instagram to keep up with Stepping UP and other Wellness Services initiatives! 

Have an idea for a prevention event? Email Julia Rand at jrand@mtroyal.ca to see how we can collaborate!