It含羞草研究社檚 St. Patrick含羞草研究社檚 Day in Nelson and the party is well underway as a diminutive woman slips through a crowded bar.
Cat Spears approaches a tipsy women with a smile and supplies. How are they feeling? Do they want some juice or candy? Condoms or snort straws? Are they comfortable with who they might go home with?
Then she asks the question that brought her here: 含羞草研究社淲hat does consent mean to you?含羞草研究社�
含羞草研究社淚t means that both people are on the same page,含羞草研究社� responds one young woman, and Spears looks relieved by the simple but acceptable answer.
Spears, who works as a family support worker at Kootenay Kids, is in charge of a new Interior Health-backed group called Mama Bears of Baker Street. Once a month, on days when the city含羞草研究社檚 bars are likely to be busy, Spears and a handful of others dressed in pink walk Nelson含羞草研究社檚 streets checking on women.
Usually the interactions are brief. The volunteers carry snacks and various items like hand warmers, cup condoms and fentanyl test strips. Occasionally they ask if the woman feels safe going home with someone, or if they need a taxi called.
No one seems to mind, and Spears is always thanked for checking in. One man even fist bumps her. 含羞草研究社淵ou含羞草研究社檙e a beautiful human being,含羞草研究社� he says.
Impromptu chats about consent 含羞草研究社� which 含羞草研究社渁 freely given enthusiastic yes, ongoing, continuously discussed, and can be taken away at any time含羞草研究社� 含羞草研究社� might interrupt the good times.
But Spears isn含羞草研究社檛 surprised by how educated and gracious people are, even when they are intoxicated.
含羞草研究社淣elson含羞草研究社檚 known for being such like a drunk festival little town, but it含羞草研究社檚 also known for the harm reduction, and that demographic of some really strong, vocal people. Nobody was really blown away, really shocked that we were out there.含羞草研究社�
Spears calls consent her passion. For over a decade she has been a consent ambassador at Shambhala Music Festival, runs classes teaching consent at Kootenay Kids, and perhaps once a year advises women who say they含羞草研究社檝e been drugged and sexually assaulted at a Nelson bar.
There含羞草研究社檚 need for her work. A study released last year by the Canadian Women含羞草研究社檚 Foundation found in sexual activity. Police-reported sexual assaults in Canada also rose by 18 per cent in 2021, according to Statistics Canada.
Despite her efforts, Spears wondered if there might be something more she could do. Maybe, she decided, she could start checking on women before they run into problems.
含羞草研究社淚 could take it even a step further and be out there saying, 含羞草研究社楬ey, you含羞草研究社檙e walking a little bit wobbly there. Where are you going? Who are you going with? Do you need a cab? Are you leaving?含羞草研究社櫤卟菅芯可鐫
She considered New Year含羞草研究社檚 Eve, and decided she would go out on her own. Three local bars gave prior approval to visit, and from 10 p.m. to last call Spears and a few others spent the night making sure women were safe.
The night was a success, and earlier this year Interior Health provided $5,000 in funding that Spears uses on supplies and a small stipend to volunteers.
The Mama Bears of Baker Street aren含羞草研究社檛 the first such group to take consent education into bars. Good Night Out Vancouver, a non-profit society, leads sexual violence prevention with festivals and bars.
But Spears含羞草研究社� group is new to Nelson含羞草研究社檚 night life, and hard to miss with their pink bandannas and the word consent in bold on their backpacks. She hopes they become ubiquitous, and welcomed, by the city含羞草研究社檚 bars and patrons.
含羞草研究社淚 want women to know that their safety is important.含羞草研究社�
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| tyler.harper@nelsonstar.com
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