PearlSpace is marking Sexual Assault Awareness Month this April with a public campaign to inform, support and empower survivors of gender-based violence throughout the Sea to Sky corridor.
The organization, which offers crisis response and support for survivors of sexualized violence, is leading a multi-pronged effort to raise awareness, prevent violence and connect community members with services in Whistler, Squamish, Pemberton and the Stl’atl’imx/Lillooet region.
“We’ve seen year-over-year increases in people accessing services,” said Ashley Oakes, executive director of PearlSpace. “That’s tied to rising population and turnover, especially in Whistler, which means we constantly need to re-educate people about what supports are available.”
In 2024, the Resort Municipality of Whistler (RMOW) had a 14.2-per-cent rise in reported intimate partner violence, according to the Whistler RCMP. While the rise is notable, most calls came from out-of-town visitors staying in hotels. For Squamish, there was almost a 30-per-cent decline in calls for service last year.
Data from 2017 published in the Canadian Journal of Emergency Nursing showed 23 per cent of residents in the Sea to Sky region had experienced sexual violence, but only nine per cent reported it to police—highlighting the importance of alternative support systems.
A growing need and a growing response
In 2023, PearlSpace launched a 24/7 sexual assault response program funded by the provincial Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General. The service offers confidential support via phone, text or online messaging, as well as in-person accompaniment to hospitals and police.
“Sometimes people just want to talk with an experienced person, other times they want action … we are there to advocate and support,” said sexual assault service worker and drop-in coordinator Jazz Lewis.
Lewis emphasized support looks different in every case, but the organization always provides the same level of care—including access to clean clothes, food, water and referrals for counselling. Survivors can engage with the service for as long as they wish.
Prevention and public engagement
April’s campaign will include bus ads, social media outreach, news media, posters, and a series of public installations, including a clothesline project featuring handmade shirts with messages from survivors in local businesses and the Squamish Public Library. One initiative invites people to create bracelets with words promoting consent and healthy relationships.
The campaign also aligns with National Prevention of Violence Against Women Week in mid-April, and leads into Crime Victims Awareness Week from May 11 to 17.
Services for everyone, no matter their status
The 24/7 sexual assault service is free to access for everyone, regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation, residency, or immigration status. While most services are fully funded, some counselling may carry a small fee based on a participant’s means.
“The sexual assault line isn’t just for people who have recently experienced sexual assault. It’s also for people who have historical sexual assault,” Oakes said.
PearlSpace also recently received a federal Department of Justice grant, enabling it to expand outreach through marketing—something Oakes said many non-profits struggle to fund.
In the lead-up, PearlSpace will be distributing rape whistles and informational materials across the corridor—small but tangible tools to help community members feel safer and more informed.
Anyone in need of support can call PearlSpace’s 24/7 line at 1-877-890-5711 or visit their website for more information.
