The UTM Women’s Centre raised $200 at their annual “Walk Five Minutes in Her Shoes” event, with all proceeds going towards raising awareness of violence against women.
A crowd gathered outside the Student Centre on Tuesday to watch male volunteers don women’s heels and navigate through an obstacle course, striking poses and walking down the “catwalk”.
The Women’s Centre gave gift cards to the two men who performed the best; the favourites were decided by applause from everyone who had gathered to watch. This year, the winners were Andrew Mifsud and the audience’s favourite, Chad Jankowski, who also won last year’s catwalk challenge.
The Centre also raffled off a basket worth $100, including a $25 gift card for Square One, two movie tickets, and a $20 gift card for Caffé Demetre.
“I believe the best part of the event was the enthusiasm we had amongst the male participants,” said Harsimer Singh, the events coordinator of the Women’s Centre. “They had a great amount of energy and seemed really supportive of the cause. They took out time from their day to show their support in ending violence against women.”
Afterwards, everyone celebrated with pizza provided by the Women’s Centre.
All proceeds will go to the non-profit organization Interim Place, a shelter for abused women and their children in Mississauga. Each year, Interim Place provides shelter, support, and counselling to women in need, with a mandate “to create social change where women have economic, social, and political justice, and all forms of violence are eliminated in the lives of all women and their communities”.
