A recent string of attacks have made Alberta women resort to their own devices to protect themselves..A string of attacks have been occurring around Alberta beginning at the end of 2020, mainly in Calgary and Edmonton. Many attribute it to factors such as COVID-19 restrictions making people stir-crazy, mask mandates allowing for greater anonymity in offenders, and even simply the large population growth experienced by Calgary, Edmonton, and other Alberta cities in recent years..Contrary to the beliefs of some, the attacks are still happening — two new reports were submitted to Calgary Police Service of yet another perpetrator sexually assaulting women in Calgary while riding his bike around the southwest earlier this week..The man – identified as Richard Catholique – has been charged with two counts of sexual assault but as of Friday June 18 is still at large.. Screen-Shot-2021-06-18-at-11.21.00-AMRichard Catholique, 31, charged with two counts of sexual assault, currently wanted on warrant. .The largest awareness campaign against these attacks has been fuelled not by mainstream media, but by social media, with women across Alberta posting warnings to each other of attackers and creepy men watching or following them across the city.. Screen-Shot-2021-06-16-at-11.42.53-AMPost taken from public Facebook search of “attacks on women Calgary” . Screen-Shot-2021-06-16-at-11.36.41-AMPost taken from public Facebook search of “attacks on women Calgary” . Screen-Shot-2021-06-16-at-11.40.25-AMPost taken from public Facebook search of “attacks on women Calgary” .As a result of this rise in gender-targeted attacks, women in Alberta are feeling increasingly unsafe in their own cities..Speaking from personal experience as a 22-year-old watching the increasing awareness campaign on social media regarding these attacks has at the least been alarming. It seems obvious from the testimony these attacks are targeted towards women, but no one seems to be doing anything..A handful of reports have been filed with the police, but there has been little to no convictions..The cases ranged from women being followed, having pictures taken of them, or experiencing unwanted sexual advances, to women driving alone and men attempting to break into their car at red lights..I’ve found sometimes the best way to raise attention to an issue is to do so yourself..I spoke to an ex-work colleague currently in high school who, along with her friends, has experienced a mental shift within the city. Jade Park expressed multiple times she and her other female friends now view the world differently, and have begun acting accordingly after the attacks went viral on social media..“After hearing about all the recent issues, I’ve definitely viewed the world differently. I feel safe, but [only] to an extent. I don’t feel safe to walk in the early morning or after, say 8-9 p.m. Just in case no one is on the same street as me. I would go to the store with my friends but not after 10 p.m.,” Park said..“I don’t feel comfortable walking down an alley at anytime of the day, and going somewhere like downtown is a terrifying idea due to the recent events.”.Park’s sentiment makes sense considering a disturbing alleged attack of a woman being pulled into a downtown alley and raped by multiple men..“I know a lot of different girls, including myself, who have been followed and stared at by men in Calgary lately. They’ve been talked to in demeaning ways, followed, or sometimes had pictures taken of them without their consent,” she said..Some precautions Park and her friends have been taking since the attacks began consist of “dressing safely or being more on alert to anyone who could be watching or following.”.In a very telling statement to the current environment, Park goes so far as to say “me and every single woman I know have started carrying something to be safe in case of an emergency, even it it’s simply a little can of hairspray or a small pocket knife. Anything we can do to protect ourselves if we have to go into a widely male-populated area.”.Park also expressed a widely shared sentiment that the police simply aren’t doing enough to make women feel safe in their own cities, so women are taking matters into their own hands..“With instances that my friends have reported men following them, the police have simply taken a note and nothing has happened. I think women are finally feeling confident enough to cover the news of what’s happening, and OK to speak up about this whole issue.”.The Calgary Police Service refused a request for interview but in a written statement said:.“We can’t speculate on whether masks are making people more brazen when committing crimes, or whether COVID restrictions may contribute to the increased rates..“We’re seeing increased reporting compared to this time last year and investigators are working on files..“With respect to messaging, we’re in the process of transitioning our public safety messaging to include information on what consent means and more of a focus on targeting offenders and bystanders. We started this a few months ago (here is an example) and will evolve as we work to ensure best practices..“We believe all women should be able to feel safe to live and work in our city.”.CPS also stated “… the majority of the offences reported to us are situations where the offender is known to the victim.”.A key to take out of that are the words “reported to us.” The overwhelming majority of assaults – especially within vulnerable populations such as women – are not reported for a multitude of reasons..Logically, one is able to provide a full name and potentially other information about someone you knew previously, versus lacking that basic knowledge for a stranger. It makes sense why the majority of reported perpetrators are known to the victim..CPS also stated: “In terms of the rate of sexual assaults, in 2020 we had fewer reported incidents compared to higher rates in 2017, 2018, and 2019, due to the advent of the #MeToo movement. This year we are seeing an increase of roughly one-third of reported sexual assaults compared to the same time last year. Again, in most of those cases, the victim is known to the offender.”.Once again a focal point of this statement should be “reported.” Hospitals like the Foothills have come out and said since COVID-19 began, people are less willing to come to hospital even when they medically need to because of fear surrounding COVID-19. It’s realistic to conclude the changed social environment we are currently living in as a result of COVID-19 may be playing a part in victims under-reporting..Attention should also be given to the claim “in most of these cases, the victim is known to the offender.” Again, it makes logical sense that known offenders are being reported much more than strangers because by the very definition a stranger is someone you don’t know..Unless you’re able to get a very clear description – which is not only required by police to move forward with a report, but is difficult to get at the best of times, much less in stressful situations – reporting a stranger to the police is difficult..Park pointed out the issue isn’t exclusive to young women:.“Me and the other women I’ve talked to about this range from 16 to 30, and we’re all upset and scared for the city..“I think this whole issue needs more coverage and more recognition from people in authority positions: schools, transit drivers, and the police. Everyone needs to work a little bit harder to ensure women feel safe and men are dealt with who think trying to harm women or make them uncomfortable is a good idea,” said Park..The harassment experienced by Park and her friends is a beacon of why more women often don’t go to the police in these situations – it was enough to make them feel fearful and uncomfortable. The way laws are written often ties the hands of law enforcers to the point they’re often unable to open a case – much less prosecute – when situations like these occur..After realizing how widespread this issue was, I began reaching out to people on Reddit who claimed to have experienced the attacks, and the changing social environment that accompanied them..A Reddit user with the handle Pistachiopuddingg replied to my request for an interview with some very disturbing experiences of her own..She described a night when she was walking her German Shepherd dog – who is trained in personal protection – and five grown men began following her..“It was around 10:30 p.m. … when I got to the crosswalk at the end of the path … I noticed a group of five men standing on the riverfront pathway. I didn’t think anything of it … [but then] I heard the men whispering and realized they were walking a few meters behind me,” she recalled.Pistachiopuddingg’s dog began giving her signals that they were in trouble, so she tried to cross the street to get away from them..“As I crossed the street, the five men also followed. I felt a pit in my stomach and crossed again back towards the Simmons building. The five men followed me yet again.”.As her fight or flight instincts kicked in, Pistachiopuddingg started running and the five men ran after her. Looking for any sign of someone to help, she found she was alone..“I scanned the entire pathway and saw nobody. No one near the gardens, no one near the playground, no one by the dog park nor the pond. I was completely alone.”.Thankfully, a guardian angel appeared..“I looked down at my phone for two seconds to try to call for help and when I looked up a woman stood before me. I have NO CLUE where this woman came from. She stopped me and asked for directions. As I talked to her I looked to my left and saw the five out of breath men standing near the bridge staring at me. The woman I was speaking to also looked over at them and glared long enough to make them feel uncomfortable.”.When asked if she considered involving law enforcement in the incident, she replied: “To be honest I didn’t even consider calling the police because I knew I was probably going to have to give a statement to a male officer who would end up gaslighting me into thinking I overreacted.”.Pistachiopuddingg specified she didn’t believe the usual scapegoats for incidents like these were responsible..“People always blame the Drop-In Center for the increase of crime in the area, but I never felt unsafe nor was I ever disrespected by the homeless population in the neighbourhood. One hundred percent I don’t currently feel safe as a woman in Calgary. I’m always alert and aware of my surroundings.”.She also hinted at some possible causes behind specific downtown attacks..“My previous office was on 12 Ave., a couple blocks away from the safe injection sites where a handful of these assaults would often happen. The building had to spend thousands on security measures and women did not feel comfortable walking out of the building alone..“I don’t think the RCMP or CPS have handled these types of attacks properly. I don’t believe either organization prioritizes training their staff on the appropriate way of handling these types of situations and/or the victims..“Most women won’t report these types of situations because we know it won’t be taken seriously by the male officer that will show up to take an official police report.”.Pistachiopuddingg also shared her thoughts on whether or not she believed the attacks have been connected or are a string of random events..“I think they’re connected in the sense that these perpetrators know they have a good chance of not being caught and getting away with it. I also think that these situations have increased in downtown Calgary since the… closing of the police station in Victoria park. The police presence has diminished significantly since they closed that police station.”.Pistachiopuddingg said she is now taking even more precautions..“I do not walk my dog in the evening alone anymore … I have changed my car’s unlocking settings so that when I press the unlock button once, only my door opens. I know many people that have also changed the way they live their lives because of these types of attacks, especially women and members of the LGBTQ+ community..“If people are around I feel safe. If I’m out alone I feel unsafe and I feel a type of hypersensitivity to things around me, even just listening to people’s footsteps if they’re walking behind me. My biggest fear lately has been taking an elevator alone..“CPS has to have a larger presence in the downtown core in general. So much crime and so many attacks happen, and I believe it’s correlated to the lack of police presence.”.Many women in Alberta have taken to crafting to combat the problem. Dozens of online businesses selling variations of self defence key chains – a collection of self defence tools such as window breakers, dog spray, personal alarm devices, and pocket knives, to name a few – have popped up seemingly overnight..An Instagram search for “self defence” brought up more than 20 different profiles of new small businesses – started within the last year – selling self-defence key chains. Some are based out of America and will only ship domestically, but a surprising amount are based directly in either Calgary or Edmonton..A woman who goes by the handle SelfDefenceBabes on Instagram who’s new Edmonton-based self-defence key chain business has grown so popular that in order to buy one you’re put on a waiting list, was able to provide some insights..“About two-three years ago I had my own scary encounter in downtown Edmonton. I was the designated driver for my friends. After dropping them off I decided to stop for food on Whyte Ave.,” she said, asking her true identity not be revealed..She said it was a weekend evening with large amounts of people milling about in the area. After grabbing her food and walking back to her car, she was approached..“A group of four guys saw me walking and decided to follow me and ask: ‘Where are you going? The party is the other way’ and ‘The night is young, come hang with us.’ I explained I was just there to pick up food and go home.”.But the men weren’t taking no for an answer..“They kept following me. I got nervous and had to hold my car keys in my hand ready to use in self defence because I felt uncomfortable. I was trying to stay calm and act nice while they kept a conversation going.”.Even after she made it to her car, the men didn’t let up..“The one guy pushed me into my car while his three friends moved in closer. I was frozen and just so scared..“Luckily, a couple saw what was happening and they pretended to know me yelling ‘I thought you already went home! Come hang with us!’ I quickly ran to them. The four guys walked away.”.These good Samaritans employed one of the most common and useful techniques in dangerous situations like these. Not only did the couple provide her with power in numbers, but the couple feigning a knowing connection with her signaled to the men they were not just random people. They had a vested interest in her, and would make it a lot harder for the men to do something to her without repercussions..Selfdefencebabes said harassment is also happening to her friends and customers..“Not only my own personal experience but friends who have experienced it too. One friend was sexually harassed by an uber driver.”.Selfdefencebabes highlighted the role of social media..“Social media has been highly active in showing recent attacks. Just a few months ago, there was an incident of a female who was being harassed by a male in the transit station in downtown Edmonton. I did my research to find and reach out to the individual and donated a keychain set to her. I got to speak to her about the incident and how scared she was. She was also incredibly grateful for me reaching out to her..Finally, I had the chance to sit down with Alexi, a self defence keychain business owner based in Calgary. She expressed that a large reason behind starting her business was due to the recent attacks, and that she and her loved ones no longer feel safe in Calgary..“Especially when I’m out alone as I see myself as an easy target. I try to limit going out by myself. Even just running simple errands like to the grocery store or Dollarama. I do have a lot of training so I’m pretty confident if I got attacked I’d have a decent chance of getting away. But I know that’s not the case with most individuals..A sociological concept called the “crime funnel” can easily explain the juxtaposition of low numbers in police reported cases and rising victim experiences. The crime funnel refers to an upside down triangle looking figure that attempts to explain why reported cases seldom match the actual problem.. Screen-Shot-2021-06-16-at-10.31.26-AMFigure provided by Dr. Stephen Dumas through the University of Calgary .This “funnelling” through the criminal justice system illuminates just how few crimes are truly reported to authorities, and how even fewer ever incur repercussions..Even if one is able to overcome the fear of going to the police with an incident, the anxiety about an attacker coming back if they find out you went to the police, and the plain inconvenience of filing stacks of paper work, the crime funnel shows even reported cases are more often than not quickly dropped, not pursued, and never prosecuted..The onus should not always fall on the victims. When I was fifteen someone I met online sent me a threatening message along with a picture of the back of my house. Petrified – and home alone – I called the police. It took them almost two hours to get to my house, and when they finally did they took a few notes and left. They didn’t offer to check around my property to see if the person was still near, they didn’t offer to file a report in case anything else happened until I asked..That day I was told that “if he comes back again or if he physically hurts you, call us back”. It was at fifteen I realized that unless it gets to the point of being much too late, police aren’t able (or willing) to do much to help.. IMG_2455 .NEXT: Conroy takes a self-defence class and offers tips for women on how to keep safe.Jackie Conroy is a Correspondent for the Western Standard.jconroy@westernstandardonline.com
