REGINA — The Coalition of Regional Sexual Assault Centres of Saskatchewan’s Sexual Violence Awareness and Prevention Month campaign, #ChooseToSee is back for its fifth year.
This year’s campaign is focusing on the essential role of men and boys in preventing gender‑based violence by confronting rape culture, patriarchal norms and harmful constructions of masculinity. It asks the community to acknowledge a core truth: sexualized violence is not inherent — it is learned, normalized and upheld through social and cultural attitudes that can be unlearned and changed, according to a Regina and Area Sexual Assault Centre press release.
According to the centre, patriarchal societies teach rigid gender roles that harm everyone. Men and boys are often socialized to link masculinity with dominance, entitlement and emotional suppression, increasing vulnerability to both causing and experiencing harm. These norms show up across the rape culture continuum, from everyday sexism to bystander inaction, and unlearning them is critical to disrupting the alarming rates of sexualized violence in Saskatchewan.
Throughout the month of May, events and activities to share the message of this campaign in Regina, Saskatoon and North Battleford will take place:
- An anonymous questionnaire inviting men and boys to share candid experiences navigating gender roles, patriarchy, and toxic masculinity
- A social media campaign encouraging the unlearning of harm and countering the influence of rape culture and “manosphere” content
- A virtual training session hosted by the Saskatoon Sexual Assault & Information Centre, “Deconstructing Rape Culture”, on May 13
- The Walk a Mile In Her Shoes event hosted by Anchor & Thread Community Services in North Battleford on May 14
- Community engagement and an opportunity to learn about the campaign and pick up limited edition campaign swag from Regina Sexual Assault Centre at the Cathedral Village Arts Festival Street Fair on May 23
“Our 2026 campaign, Choose to Unlearn is an invitation to men and boys to be part of gender-based violence prevention as partners through reflection, accountability, and leadership,” says Chantelle Priel, sexual violence advocacy co-ordinator with Regina and Area Sexual Assault Centre.
“Prevention work means transforming what we have all been taught about power, gender, and violence, and actively unlearning the conditioning and cultural norms that allow sexualized violence to persist in society.”
