In Canada, April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month.

Debbie Parker is the Cultural Coordinator at the Portage Family Abuse Prevention Centre and for her, this month is important because sexual assault can happen everywhere and does not discriminate.

Parker insists consent needs to be taken seriously because any sexual assault has long term effects.

"No is no," says Parker.

She notes it's evident that people who experience an assault don't always want to speak out because they feel guilty or feel shame.

Parker urges those who've been assaulted to reach out for help, noting, the resources are available to you.

"Find somebody," says Parker. "If you don't want to see somebody face to face, there are hotlines and crisis lines. People will talk to you from the other side of the world if you call their crisis line. It's scary i know, but it will help."

Parker outlines in Portage resources include the centre, the RCMP, the Portage Friendship Centre, CMHA, and the hospital.

Parker adds the awareness campaign is vital because people in 2019 are still turning a blind eye to the sexual assaults taking place not only here in Portage, but everywhere else in the world.