Researcher hopes app will reduce sex assaults at festivals, parties
Dr. Kari Sampsel’s groundbreaking research has found that large gatherings — from summer festival season to Halloween bashes — are peak periods for sexual assault.
Long an advocate of prevention, the medical director of the sexual assault and partner abuse care program at The Ottawa Hospital wanted to be more proactive, so she is developing an app aimed at preventing some of those assaults.
The app, called Night Light, is designed to make it easier for people who fear for their safety, or who are being assaulted, get help.
Sampsel, who is developing the app in partnership with Algonquin College, said she hopes to eventually see it used by major festivals, schools and more. She has also set up a consulting company as part of the prevention effort. Sampsel will consult with organizers ahead of major festivals or concerts to go over their safety plan and whether, for example, their staff has appropriate training to recognize when someone is in trouble. She has not yet approached festivals with the app, which is still in development, but a worker with RBC Bluesfest volunteer services said it sounded like something they would use.
The NightLight app, she said, will help to keep people safe, as well as help organizers to be proactive.
“It puts safety back in the palm of the hand of the person,” she said.
“Everyone has their phone on them. It just gives people a modicum of control over themselves.”
The app will help people attending large events to easily locate friends and call security, if needed, using GPS and a messenger-type function. It will include a site layout of events, helping volunteers, staff and attendees locate medical attention and security services.
Its development has been slowed by the college strike, Sampsel said.
She hopes to have it in use for next year’s festival season.
Sampsel, in addition to her role as medical director of the sex assault program at The Ottawa Hospital, has conducted key research that points to large gatherings such as festivals as frequent spots for sexual assault.
She said she was partly inspired to come up with the app after reading about a woman at Montreal’s Osheaga festival who said her drink was spiked but that no one would help her because they thought she was drunk. The woman also said her concern was brushed off by security crews at the event.
Every year, about half a million Canadians report sexual assault. In the Ottawa region, more than 750 people seek help for sexual assault each year. Of those, onequarter were attending a large gathering at the time of the reported assault. Almost all are under 25.
“Sexual assault is a devastating and endemic problem with a ripple effect for the survivors and those around them.”
Sampsel said the #MeToo social media campaign has highlighted just how prevalent and damaging sex harassment and assault are.
“We want to be part of the solution so there are fewer #MeToo stories.”
Sexual assault is a devastating ... problem with a ripple effect for the survivors and those around them.