The Centre Sarnia-Lambton (formerly the Sexual Assault Survivors Centre Sarnia-Lambton) wants residents to know there's a safe space available, ahead of a verdict being delivered on Thursday in the Hockey Canada sexual assault trial.
The Centre's meditation space will be open for people to drop in on Friday, July 25, anytime between 9 a.m. and 12 p.m. or 1 p.m. until 4 p.m.
Counsellor and Community Educator Samantha Wrobel said the outcome of the trial could be triggering for those who have experienced sexual violence in the past.
"It may bring up some big emotions, some feelings," she said. "It may bring up some memories and we just want this to be a safe place for people to come to if they are experiencing any of that, and give them a space to feel those emotions and talk to somebody if they need it."
Wrobel said guests will be greeted by reception and can then gauge where they want to be. There will be guided meditation and counsellors available.
Thursday's verdict will come about a month after closing arguments were heard in the highly publicized trial of five members of the 2018 Canadian World Junior Hockey Team.
Cal Foote, Dillon Dubé, Alex Formenton, Carter Hart, and Michael McLeod were charged with sexual assault. McLeod was also charged with sexual assault by being a party to the offence. They have all pleaded not guilty. The charges stemmed from the alleged sexual assault of a woman, known only as E.M., at a London hotel after the 2018 Hockey Canada gala.
Wrobel said since the trial started, there has been an increase at The Centre with people accessing services or just needing a safe space to be in.
"We are seeing locally, but also across the province, an increase in crisis calls to a lot of sexual assault survivor centres, especially with all the information that is coming out through the trial," she said. "We are seeing a lot more people who are experiencing triggers. There's maybe some suppressed memories that are coming up with this."
Wrobel said the important message is that The Centre supports survivors.
"That's, I think, the most important thing that needs to come out of this. We believe survivors today, tomorrow, and every day," she said. "We want to remind everybody that what they've gone through is important, what they've gone through is their story, and what they've gone through has meaning to them, and we want them to know that there's somebody on their side."
Wrobel said while this trial may impact someone's view when it comes to stepping forward and pressing charges, it can also be viewed as empowering.
"There's a lot of attention on what's going on right now and we want to keep that attention going. We want to keep this momentum going," she said. "We want to keep people feeling comfortable to come forward."
The Centre, located at 145 Christina St. North, is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. There is also a 24/7 crisis line, (519) 337-3320.
"This is a safe place for them to come to any time," Wrobel said.
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Update: The five hockey players were acquitted of all charges. The verdict was announced Thursday afternoon.
The Centre Sarnia-Lambton Executive Director Chantel Butterfield released a statement on social media, stating she believes E.M.
"No matter today’s verdict, her courage, her voice, and her truth matter deeply, to me, to us, to our movement, and to countless other survivors across this country," read the Facebook post. "Our justice system remains broken and archaic. It was not built to hold the complexity of sexualized violence or the lived experiences of survivors. Legal outcomes do not define the truth: survivors do."
The full statement can be read by clicking here.