UPEI marks Sexual Assault Awareness Week with messages of compassion and solidarity
Prince Edward Island’s annual Sexual Assault Awareness Week (SAAW) was observed from September 18–24, 2025—a week dedicated to raising awareness about sexual violence, promoting prevention education, and extending compassion and support to survivors within our communities.
To honour this important initiative, the UPEI Sexual Violence Prevention and Response Office (SVPRO), in partnership with the UPEI Student Union, UPEI Campus Life, Robertson Library, PEI Rape and Sexual Assault Centre, and Women's Network PEI, hosted a series of on-campus events, including a Sexual Assault Awareness Week display in the Robertson Library lobby. Members of the UPEI community were invited to visit the display to learn more about SAAW and participate in “Love Letters to Survivors,” an initiative that encouraged individuals to write messages of empathy, care, and encouragement for those who have experienced sexual violence.
A “mailbox” was placed at the display table, complete with paper, markers, and writing prompts to inspire participation. More than 60 heartfelt submissions were received and later assembled into a 20 by 30-inch collage, now displayed at the SVPRO office. The artwork serves as a visible expression of solidarity and compassion, offering comfort to survivors who visit the space.
“The submissions made my heart full and had a few of us tearing up at the office,” said Kelly Robinson, Sexual Violence Prevention and Education Officer at UPEI. “The depth of compassion and sensitivity in these messages demonstrates our community’s enduring commitment to survivors and to one another.”
For anyone affected by sexual or gender-based violence, the UPEI SVPRO offers confidential support and resources. The office can be reached at 902-620-5090 or sv-pro@upei.ca, or visited in person in Rooms 115–118, Kelley Memorial Building, Monday through Friday, 8:30 am–4:00 pm.
