Men in Drumheller are taking off their comfortable shoes to strap on red stilettos to Walk a Mile in Her Shoes.
The Big Country Anti-Violence Association (BCAVA) is hosting their fourth Walk a Mile in Her Shoes event to raise awareness and funds for their efforts.
“The money raised goes to our association, and then we use it to fund projects. We also provide support to other organizations that are doing this kind of works, especially Communities Against Abuse in Stettler,” explains member of BCAVA Sandy McFadden.
“If the women’s shelter or  Big Country Victim Services needed funds for example, we would work together with those groups.”
The walk is coming up on Wednesday, May 18. It sets out from the parking lot of the Drumheller Co-op and finishes up at Freson Bros. Along this route, men will don bright red stilettos and hobble their way along the course. At the end is a barbecue and prizes.
While onlookers will find it entertaining to see Drumheller men attempt what many women do on a daily basis, at its heart is raising awareness of gender violence. As Gerry Mancini, who is participating this year, explains it is about what happens after the shoes come off and the conversations begins.
So far, organizers have a dedicated crew of walkers ready to clop down the road, but they could always use more.
“We are still taking registrations,” said McFadden, adding that they also would appreciate items for door prizes.

For more information or to register contact BCAVA president Kristi Donison at 403-821-0905. Those wishing to join can also register by going to www.BCAVA.com.

One of St. Anthony’s top students will be off to Poland next September after being recognized for her hard work and openness by the Drumheller Rotary Club.
Veronica Felisilda, Grade 11, was selected for the Rotary Exchange program to study in Poland for her Grade 12 year next year, but Felisilda said the choice of the eastern European country was a bit of a surprise.
“I was asking ‘why Poland?’ My top choices were France, Italy, and Spain. I didn’t know anything about Poland except perogies and sausage, so it’s time for me to explore and learn more about the culture and language,” says Felisilda, who’s already hitting the Polish language books and online courses and researching social norms and faux pas.
“She interviewed very well and was well-spoken and open minded,” said the Rotary Club’s Michelle Kendell.
Along with her grades and her involvment in the Drumheller Fillipino Society, and open minded quality of hers that Rotary saw is actually the exact reason Felisilda is looking forward to the exchange, which will have her completing a year of Grade 12 in Poland before coming back to Drumheller for another year of Grade 12 schooling to receive her diploma.
“My older brother was my inspiration – he studied in Japan and I saw his growth. He became very open minded and it inspired me, that I wanted to be like that and explore and learn. There’s a lot happening in the world,” said Felisilda.
Although she doesn’t know yet if university is in her future, Felisilda said she is in a good spot to figure out what path she wants to follow.
“I think meeting people (in Poland) will help me find out what I want to do, through talking with different people and seeing a new culture and how they do things.”
Felisilda, who is originally from the Phillipines, says her adjustment to Canada will help her get used to Poland, too.
The Rotary Youth Exchange is a study-abroad opportunity which sees more than 8,000 students aged 15-19 learn abroad. Rotary arranges host families and room and board for the students, and local Rotary clubs provide airfare, insurance, travel documents, and spending money.