Walk denounces sexual exploitation of young people – Brandon Sun

Tears were shed in Princess Park on Friday during an event to raise awareness about the sexual exploitation of young people.

The annual Grandmother’s Walk took place in downtown Brandon and attracted approximately 100 people.

Lisa Noctor, Youth Gap Program Coordinator at the Brandon Friendship Centre and the event’s keynote speaker, shared a personal story before the walk.

Lisa Noctor leads the Grandmother's Walk from Princess Park on Friday afternoon. The walk was held to raise awareness about the sexual exploitation of young people. (Connor McDowell/Brandon Sun) — Lisa Noctor leads the Grandmother’s Walk from Princess Park on Friday afternoon. The walk was held to raise awareness about the sexual exploitation of young people. (Connor McDowell/Brandon Sun)

“I was bought and sold,” she told the audience. “By definition, sexually exploited… When I started misbehaving, people thought I was just having sex.”

Noctor said that she had overcome her experiences long ago and regained her strength.

Zachary Young also volunteered with the Gap program. He told the Sun that he had recovered from his time on the streets and is now focused on helping others get through similar issues.

“That’s our mission: to be involved and know that there is hope for recovery,” he said.

“The reason I volunteer is to help people get back on track.”

Young said he was pleased with the turnout of dozens of people in the park Friday afternoon.

The walk began in Princess Park, went up Eighth Street to Lorne Avenue, and then back up Ninth Street. Guests were given lunch in the park while spending time together.

After singing a song about wildflowers with other members, Noctor told the audience that the song has the meaning of ‘raising awareness’ of the dangers in the community.

“We say, ‘Hey!’ That’s our warning call.”

Lisa Noctor holds a sign as participants leave Princess Park on Friday to raise awareness about child sexual exploitation. The event, called the Grandmother's Walk, is held annually in Brandon. (Connor McDowell/The Brandon Sun) — Lisa Noctor holds a sign as participants leave Princess Park on Friday to raise awareness about child sexual exploitation. The event, called the Grandmother’s Walk, is held annually in Brandon. (Connor McDowell/The Brandon Sun)

Sexual exploitation is the sexual abuse of children and young people where sex or sexual acts are exchanged for money, shelter, protection, food, drugs or other basic necessities of life. The majority of those abused through sexual exploitation are women and girls, but it also affects boys and men.

The Grandmother’s Walk was organized by the Sexual Exploitation Awareness Team for Westman. It included a smudging ceremony and some group songs. It has been going on for over five years now.

The walk originally began in Winnipeg in 2007. It started with grandmother and elder Margaret Lavallee, who discovered that a 12-year-old child had been impregnated by her grandfather and subsequently cast out of her community. The walk now takes place in several communities across Manitoba.

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