'This will always be a fight': Women push for changes to Saskatchewan labour law
After years of dealing with sexual harassment at work, Ariana Donovan created an online whisper network for others with similar experiences.
Donovan, a model based in Regina, says she wanted to help others know who they should avoid in the industry.
"Over the years, there's been times I've been underaged, and there's 50-year-old men telling me how sexy I am. It's disgusting," Donovan says.
As stories of sexual harassment and violence mounted with the private Facebook group she created, Donovan says she realized more needed to be done.
"It made me really upset that, despite this being a prominent issue, no one was really doing anything."
Donovan is one of several women who have lobbied the Saskatchewan Party government to include sexual harassment in the province's employment act.
Last week, the government proposed to do just that by introducing legislation to make it clear that any unwelcome action of a sexual nature constitutes harassment.
The amendment also covers independent contractors, students and volunteers as well as Uber drivers, musicians, models and those in performing arts.
If passed, Saskatchewan would become one of five provinces to specifically reference sexual harassment in legislation. The others are Alberta, Ontario, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island.
"If they have a complaint, they will be able to go to labour relations and workplace safety, who will assign it to somebody and go in and can make a binding order on the employer, can lay a charge on the employer, and have them ultimately fined," says Labour Minister Don Morgan.
"They will be able to have the full scope of remedies that are available under our legislation."
Theresa Sokyrka, a singer-songwriter based in Saskatoon who rose to fame after being a runner-up on the "Canadian Idol" reality TV show, started a petition to advocate for the labour law changes.
She says the new legislation will empower more women to come forward.
"We don't have to be fearful of the gigs we take anymore," Sokyrka says.
She says she first experienced sexual violence at work when she was underage and clearing tables at a restaurant. She was grabbed.
"Every situation in every restaurant I've worked at there's been some sort of situation ... I could write an entire book on it," Sokyrka says.
"If you go to management ... then they might as well get rid of you now, because you're not cool with how the whole industry functions. So you get used to being silenced everyday."
A recent survey by the Woman Abuse Council of Toronto suggests women and girls are fearful to report sexual harassment or violence at work for reasons that include stigma, getting fired, it affecting their career or backlash from the perpetrator.
While Donovan and Sokyrka say they are happy changes are coming in Saskatchewan, they want the legislation to do more. They want "sexual violence" included in its language and a promise of mental health supports for victims.
"In the modelling industry ... minors get manipulated a lot. Having that support and resources available to them is very important," Donovan says. "It shouldn't just be, 'This happened, I'm sorry. This is what you can do moving on.' It has to be an actual healing process."
Although both women continue to advocate for safe workplaces, they are hopeful that if more people come forward with stories, it will lead to further changes.
"It's like when banana clips came out in the '80s. Saskatchewan got them in the '90s. We're a little bit behind here," Sokyrka says, adding she's less afraid to speak up now that she's in her 40s.
"We just have to look at our women ancestors, and all the women who have been fighting the patriarchy, and find solace that this will always be a fight we have to lend our voices to."
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 27, 2021.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
What to know about avian influenza in dairy cows and the risk to humans
Why is H5N1, or bird flu, a concern, how does it spread, and is there a vaccine? Here are the answers to some frequently asked questions about avian influenza.
'I was scared': Ontario man's car repossessed after missing two repair loan payments
An Ontario man who took out a loan to pay for auto repairs said his car was repossessed after he missed two payments.
opinion The special relationship between King Charles and the Princess of Wales
Royal commentator Afua Hagan writes that when King Charles recently admitted Catherine to the Order of the Companions of Honour, it not only made history, but it reinforced the strong bond between the King and his beloved daughter-in-law.
Pro-plastic lobbyist presence at UN talks is 'troubling,' say advocates
Environmentalist groups are sounding the alarm about a steep increase in the number of pro-plastic lobbyists at the UN pollution talks taking place this week.
'Too young to have breast cancer': Rates among young Canadian women rising
Breast cancer rates are rising in Canada among women in their 20s, 30s and 40s, according to research by the University of Ottawa (uOttawa).
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.
$70M Lotto Max winners kept prize a secret from family for 2 months
During a special winner celebration near their hometown, Doug and Enid shared the story of how they discovered they were holding a Lotto Max ticket worth $70 million and how they kept this huge secret for so long.
Courteney Cox says her partner Johnny McDaid once broke up with her in therapy
Courteney Cox's longtime partner Johnny McDaid once broke up with her in a therapy session.
Are Canadians getting sick from expired food?
A new survey by Dalhousie University's Agri-Food Analytics Lab asked Canadians about their food consumption habits amid rising prices.