In all, 53 pairs of bright red high heeled shoes walked, marched and hobbled down Goderich Street in Port Elgin May 26 for the Women's House Serving Bruce and Grey annual Walk a Mile in Her Shoes fundraiser.

Hub Staff

Taking a stand against violence against women, 53 men donned their bright red high heeled shoes and headed out onto the streets of downtown Port Elgin for the Women’s House Serving Bruce and Grey’s (WHSBG) annual Walk A Mile In Her Shoes fundraising event May 26.

The event kicked off at The Queen’s Bar and Grill where, beginning at noon, participants registered and donned their shoes before hitting the streets. The walk was led by the WHSBG banner carried by Board Chair Tracy Primeau and Vice Chair Sher Brown as well as Kincardine Scottish Pipe Band pipers John Farrell and Nathan Smith.

Making their way up and down Goderich Street through the downtown core the men carried signs, raising awareness and promoting an end to gender based violence and sexual assault.

“The bottom line is that it draws the attention and people ask questions,” said WHSBG Community and Fund Development Coordinator Michelle Lamont. “The idea is to get the conversation going and we can talk about the remediations and prevention and hopefully working against violence against women and ending domestic violence in general,” she said.

For Paul Clark, Vice President of Bruce Power's Bruce B, it was his fourth year participating in Walk a Mile. “It's not just about the money that we raise, that really goes a long way to helping, but the walk itself and the size of the crowd raises attention for everybody in this area that knows this wonderful service exists,” he said. “Your walk today could be the life and death difference for some family today just by raising that attention," he said.

The event raised a total of $24,327 for WHSBG. The Bruce Power Frolicking Fellows took the award for the top team pledging a total of over $10,000, while the individual award went to Chris Turcotte who raised $2,500.

The Women’s House Serving Bruce and Grey provides a variety of services including in-house shelter services, 24 hour information and support lines, a child witness protection program, community counselling, transitional support, sexual assault counselling and second stage housing.

Holding a Women's House Serving Bruce and Grey banner, WHSBG Board Chair Tracy Primeau (left) and Vice Chair Sher Brown led the annual Walk a Mile in Her Shoes event through Port Elgin.

From left, Saugeen Shores Police Auxiliary Constable Terry Varga, Auxiliary Sergeant Paul Vitex and Auxiliary Constable Zack Zadow were ready to Walk a Mile in their red high heeled shoes in support of the Women's House Serving Bruce and Grey.

11 month old Maya was at The Queen's Bar and Grill in Port Elgin to support her dad, Sushank Saha, as he donned his red shoes.

Pipers John Farrell and Nathan Smith of the Kincardine Scottish Pipe Band helped bring more attention to the Women’s House fundraiser.

Many signs were available for participants to carry at the Walk A Mile In Her Shoes event May 26.

Wearing red high heeled shoes and carrying signs, men 'walked a mile' in downtown Port Elgin to raise awareness about gender based violence and sexual assault at the annual Women’s House Serving Bruce and Grey fundraiser.

The Bruce Power Frolicking Fellows took the award for the top team, pledging over $10,000 for the Women's House Serving Bruce and Grey.

Women’s House Serving Bruce and Grey Board Chair Tracy Primeau presented Chris Turcotte with his award for Top Individual after he raised $2,500.