Press Release: Men Strut in Stilettos to End Violence Against Women
--
Men Strut in Stilettos to End Violence Against Women
GTA men put their finest heel forward at the 8th annual Walk A Mile In Her Shoes
May 31, 2017, TORONTO — Today, men from across the city will unite in fabulous footwear for Toronto’s annual Walk a Mile in Her Shoes® event to raise awareness and funds for White Ribbon — the world’s largest effort of men and boys working to end violence against women.
Celebrating its eighth year, this event is one of the biggest in the world. Over 4,400 people have participated in previous years, taking more than 6 million high-heeled steps and raising over $850,000 dollars to end violence against women.
Today’s Walk A Mile In Her Shoes event will take place over lunch from 11:45 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. and starts and ends at David Pecaut Square (215 King Street West) in Toronto, with a one-mile walk (in heels) through the heart of downtown.
White Ribbon is proud to announce that City Councillors Joe Cressy and Mike Layton will host this year’s walk before taking to the streets to strut their stuff in stilettos. Additionally, Jagmeet Singh, candidate for NDP’s leadership will be lending his voice to the event. Key supporters and participants this year also include Town Shoes Limited, McCarthy Tetrault, Corman Feiner, Barrick, Toronto Men’s Fashion Week along with DJ Ken L Jones providing entertainment and local food-truck vendors, Spicy Ethiopian and The Crazy Burrito.
“Town Shoes Limited is proud to help men strut their stuff in stilettos and take a walk in her shoes to end violence against women,” says President of Town Shoes Ltd, Simon Nankervis. “Our team takes pride in positively impacting the communities we live in and serve. Each day our team across Canada walks the walk and this year, our amazing customers, are also participating by donating across the Country at their local store.”
The Walk A Mile In Her Shoes event is an important part of White Ribbon’s commitment to educate and bring awareness to the role men can play in ending violence against women.
Indira Naidoo-Harris, Minister of the Status of Women, a longstanding White Ribbon supporter says, “Walk a Mile in Her Shoes challenges rape culture and works toward creating gender equality and healthy relationships between men and women, and boys and girls. This Initiative is an important step on the path towards change in Sexual Assault Prevention Month.”
It is through campaigns like this that the organization promotes gender equality, healthy relationships and a new vision of masculinity.
“Every year in Canada 472,000 sexual assaults take place, which is why we’re asking men to walk the walk and unite as a force that won’t be pressured into silence about inequality, harassment and abuse,” said White Ribbon’s Executive Director, Todd Minerson. “We know not all men are part of the problem, but all men can be part of the solution. Walk a Mile in her Shoes Toronto is one way men can raise their voice and help us raise critical funds to be bold in our work engaging men and boys to prevent gender-based violence.”
White Ribbon invites the men and women of Toronto to strap on their heels and stand up tall to help end violence against women. For more information visit www.walkamiletoronto.ca.
For information:
Todd Minerson
White Ribbon
(416) 920–6684 x.14
Amber Blackburn
Environics Communications
(416) 969–2714 | (416) 606–3596
About White Ribbon
White Ribbon is the world’s largest movement of men and boys working to end violence against women and girls, promote gender equity, healthy relationships and a new vision of masculinity. White Ribbon campaigns, operating in 65 countries, focus on educating men and boys on the issue and raising awareness about the role men can play in ending violence against women. Wearing a white ribbon is a personal pledge to never commit, condone or remain silent about violence against women and girls.
Originally published at White Ribbon.
