Sexual violence support advocate makes crucial progress in first year

Whether it’s intervening in crisis situations, providing counselling for those who have experienced trauma, or establishing new programs to ensure some of the most marginalized people in our society can succeed, in the past 15 years, Carla Bertsch has seen it all.

Informed by her education and experience working in domestic and sexual violence, mental health, and education, Bertsch brings a unique perspective to her role as the university’s first sexual violence support advocate (SVSA). 

“Sexual violence is a serious issue on post-secondary campuses and has traumatic impacts for victims and survivors. When people don’t feel safe, their ability to learn and thrive is limited,” says Bertsch. “So much healing comes from having a first response that is appropriate in terms of compassion, understanding and empathy.”

Created after the implementation of the sexual violence policy in June 2017, Bertsch’s role as SVSA highlights the university’s dedication to sexual violence advocacy and support, a pivotal step towards establishing a strong university culture where our community can thrive.

“The advocacy role ensures there is a safe space where people can come forward and disclose acts of sexual violence, whether that means pursuing a formal process or not,” she explains. “Folks can also access different types of support such as accommodations and self-care options that are vital to their health and success.” 

Although still in early stages, the progress toward creating a campus free of sexual violence is a point of pride for members of the UCalgary community.

“I am incredibly proud of the work that has been completed over the past three years by so many people,” says Dr. Dru Marshall, provost and vice-president (academic). “As part of our sexual violence policy, the advocate is crucial to the development of a supportive campus culture.

“Through education and one-on-one support, Carla has been instrumental in advancing our goal of creating and sustaining a safe environment for our students, faculty and staff to learn and work every day.”

While the policy provides a standardized framework for responding to incidents of sexual violence, Bertsch dedicates her time to educating the campus community about sexual violence and to offering one-on-one support and resources to anyone affected.

Although sexual violence is a complex issue that won’t be solved overnight, in the past year Bertsch has worked tirelessly to promote a culture free of violence where our diverse population of more than 34,000 students and 5,000 staff have the support they need to focus on growth and development.

In addition to providing confidential support to community members who have experienced sexual violence, Bertsch is also leading the charge in on-campus education and training. Since starting her role, Bertsch has offered more than 75 presentations about sexual violence, prevention, and trauma-informed response.

During Sexual Violence Awareness Month in May 2018, with the help of volunteers, Bertsch held numerous awareness booths, distributing thousands of resource materials to faculties and departments across campus, including informative postcards and newly developed colouring books designed for survivors to engage in self-care.

“The Students’ Union is proud to be part of a campus community that has an office dedicated to sexual violence support,” says Nabila Farid, Students’ Union vice-president of student life.

“The Sexual Violence Support Advocate can have a profound impact for survivors of sexual violence and shows that the University of Calgary prioritizes our community’s safety, well-being and growth. It’s remarkable to know that students, faculty and staff can feel comfortable coming forward and accessing support and resources.”

If you have been affected by sexual violence, you can arrange a confidential consultation with Carla by email — to talk, to have someone listen and support you.

The actions our faculty and staff take every day, at work or in the community, contribute to UCalgary’s success and one university family culture. Celebrate UCalgary’s achievements at the 2018 Community Report event on Sept. 26. RVSP today.