Sarah Andersen, Big Country Victim Services

    For anyone local who has suffered the trauma of sexual assault, Big Country Victim Services is an important local resource. Big County Victim Services is often the first contact to help support people in their start with dealing with the trauma.
    Big Country Victim Services Assistant Coordinator Sarah Andersen encourages anyone who has suffered sexual assault to reach out for help.
    “Seek medical attention, if it’s needed. To report it to the police. If they’re scared about reporting it to the police, Victim Services can come with them or talk with them prior to reporting.”
    Andersen said Big Country Victim Services doesn’t need a direct referral from local RCMP to assist somebody, although sexual assault victims can choose to have contact with Victim Services when they’ve reported an assault to local RCMP.

    However, many people who suffer a sexual assault don’t report it to the police.
    “I’m not sure what the exact percentage is. I think it’s low, as a result of fear, especially in rural areas and smaller communities. People are scared maybe the supports aren’t going to be there, or that this person, whoever sexually assaulted them, is going to come back again. Fear of safety. Fear of backlash, maybe a little bit.”
    Andersen said the best way to support someone you care about who has been through the trauma of a sexual assault is to be there.
    “Listen to them. Try to encourage them to report it or to get help.” Victim Services is able to refer clients out to services they may need, such as counselling or a shelter.
    As for the stance that some people take of blaming the person that’s been the victim of sexual assault, Andersen agrees the person’s fear they may be in a similar situation and not come out of it may be a factor, perhaps along with lack of understanding of being in that situation.
    She notes there’s now more opportunity for people to publicize their opinions, such as social media, and there’s not a lot of negative feedback on how they publish or publicize their opinions. “There’s a difference when it comes to posting it on a computer than saying it in real life.”
    “In all sexual assault related crimes, we recommend the victim, or someone, to call 9-1-1 as soon as possible, for different reasons,” Sergeant Josée Valiquette, RCMP K Division (Alberta) spokesperson, “and the first reason is to bring assistance to the person that’s been the victim of this crime.”
    The Sergeant said the RCMP needs to collect any physical evidence related to the crime,  the sooner the better. However, even if there’s been a long duration since the sexual assault occurred, Valiquette urges crime victims to call the RCMP.
    “If it happened some time ago, they should call us, regardless. They’ll call us and we’ll investigate, even if it was years ago.”
    She reiterated that the RCMPs first concern is in assisting the sexual assault victim.
    Sergeant Valiquette provided The Mail with sexual assault figures reported from the RCMP detachments in Drumheller, Hanna, Stettler, and Strathmore. To gather the information, the RCMP looked at seven categories for this reporting purpose, including aggravated sexual assault with a firearm, aggravated sexual assault, sexual assault, threats to a third party with sexual assault.

    “So in all these numbers I see, I see a reduction. There could be many different factors involved in the drop, said the Sergeant.
    “That’s one of the things with statistics, we have to be really careful. For example, you could see a crime rate go up five per cent, but maybe the population went up thirty per cent.”
    She said other factors could include a drop in population, and the shifting age of the population. To put the numbers in perspective would require to show trends compared to the population.
    Sergeant Valiquette did say the numbers for the detachments in this report were lower compared to most of Alberta according to the 2011 Canada Census.

Nathan Cooper, seeks Wildrose nod in                                                            Wade Bearchell seeks PC nod in
 Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills                                                                                Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills

Indicators are pointing to a spring provincial election and the action is heating up in the Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills riding.
    MLA Bruce Rowe, was one of the nine Wildrose MLAs that crossed the floor to join the Progressive Conservative Party (PC) before Christmas.
    While Rowe has not publicly declared that he would be seeking the nomination, with the suggestion that Alberta resident will be going to the polls sooner or later, he may see some competition springing up inside and outside of his new party.
    Last week, Carstairs Town Councillor Nathan Cooper announced he would be running for the nomination to represent the Wildrose Party come the next election. He appears to be the first to announce his intentions. Not only is he a town councillor, but he is also Chief of Staff for the Wildrose opposition in Edmonton.
    “Strong families and communities are the backbone of Alberta’s economy. A public official’s first job is to represent the interests of local constituents, a duty I pledge to fully embrace,” said Cooper in a press release. “Wildrose is Alberta’s only truly grassroots conservative movement. We stand for free enterprise, less government, increased personal freedom, and democracy. I am proud to stand with our strong and united Wildrose team in defending these non-negotiable principles.”
    He states in his release that he has the support of Wildrose House leader Shayne Saskiw.  He foresees falling oil prices having a serious affect on the economy.
    “Albertans understand that lower oil prices will have a real impact on the local economy. Jobs will be lost, household budgets will be tight. This is the exact wrong time to raise taxes on Albertans,” said Cooper. “Our families and seniors already face high costs, forcing them to make tough decisions every day. Raising taxes will only increase the damage, kill jobs, and drive away investment.”
     Before Mr. Cooper has a chance to go head to head with the incumbent, Mr. Rowe, if he decides to run, he still needs to win the endorsement from the PC Party. At the time of the mass migration to the PCs, a document was shared throughout the media that specified that the MLAs who crossed the floor would be given the premier’s endorsement to be the candidate of choice. The veracity of this endorsement has come in to question.
     Wade Bearchell, Town of Olds Councillor, has decided to challenge Rowe for the nomination for the Progressive Conservatives.
    Bearchell is a two-term councillor and professionally has been the pro manager of the Olds Golf Club since 2003. He tells The Mail his decision to run for the nomination came long before the crossing of the floor last December.
    “There was concern originally that the premier would guarantee them the nomination, but that is not the case, certainly not in our riding,” said Bearchell. “I am not sure if the premier is going to endorse Bruce Rowe, but I’m not too worried about that.”
 “I was getting prepared to announce and put my hat in the ring for the nomination, before all that floor crossing happened,” said Bearchell. “Once the dust settled, I decided to come out and make my plan known.”
    He says residents in the area are upset about the floor crossers.
    “There is a lot of questions yet to be answered, and I am hoping they will be. All I know is I have tremendous support from people all through the constituency, so I am excited to start the process,” he said. “There are bad feelings directed to the people who crossed the floor, and there is bad feelings for the premier even to let it happen, I get that.”
    Bearchell is the first to let his name stand for the nomination for the PC Party. Calls to Mr. Rowe were not answered as of press time.