Sexual assault centre waiting list surging over #MeToo

The Kawartha Sexual Assault Centre (KSAC) has a waiting list for services extending until June, said an official, as demand for the centre’s services is surging.

Lisa Clarke, acting executive director of KSAC, told the Peterborough Police Services Board meeting Tuesday evening that there’s been an increase in demand since the court case of CBC radio host Jian Ghomeshi and the #MeToo movement.

“The pressure on our centre at the moment is through the roof,” she said.

Clarke was invited to come speak as part of the police board’s new efforts to invite social agencies to come give presentations on what they do and how police could potentially help them.

On Tuesday evening, Clarke also spoke of how the client profile is shifting at KSAC.

She said that at one time, women who sought help from the centre were often dealing with “historical” sexual violence; they may have kept quiet about it for up to 30 years before seeking help, she said.

But now she’s noticing a high proportion of queer youth who seek help, she said; they aren’t waiting years to seek services any more.

Facilities review:

Work toward studying whether a larger city police station is needed is getting started, said police board chairman Bob Hall.

The group has selected Insp. Lynne Buehler as chairwoman, Hall said, and the next meeting is March 21.