Itsa国际传媒檚 St. Patricksa国际传媒檚 Day in Nelson and the party is well underway as a diminutive woman slips through a crowded bar.

Cat Spears approaches a tipsy women with a smile and supplies. How are they feeling? Do they want some juice or candy? Condoms or snort straws? Are they comfortable with who they might go home with?

Then she asks the question that brought her here: sa国际传媒淲hat does consent mean to you?sa国际传媒�

sa国际传媒淚t means that both people are on the same page,sa国际传媒� responds one young woman, and Spears looks relieved by the simple but acceptable answer.

Spears, who works as a family support worker at Kootenay Kids, is in charge of a new Interior Health-backed group called Mama Bears of Baker Street. Once a month, on days when the citysa国际传媒檚 bars are likely to be busy, Spears and a handful of others dressed in pink walk Nelsonsa国际传媒檚 streets checking on women.

Usually the interactions are brief. The volunteers carry snacks and various items like hand warmers, cup condoms and fentanyl test strips. Occasionally they ask if the woman feels safe going home with someone, or if they need a taxi called.

No one seems to mind, and Spears is always thanked for checking in. One man even fist bumps her. sa国际传媒淵ousa国际传媒檙e a beautiful human being,sa国际传媒� he says.

Impromptu chats about consent sa国际传媒� which sa国际传媒渁 freely given enthusiastic yes, ongoing, continuously discussed, and can be taken away at any timesa国际传媒� sa国际传媒� might interrupt the good times.

But Spears isnsa国际传媒檛 surprised by how educated and gracious people are, even when they are intoxicated.

sa国际传媒淣elsonsa国际传媒檚 known for being such like a drunk festival little town, but itsa国际传媒檚 also known for the harm reduction, and that demographic of some really strong, vocal people. Nobody was really blown away, really shocked that we were out there.sa国际传媒�

Spears calls consent her passion. For over a decade she has been a consent ambassador at Shambhala Music Festival, runs classes teaching consent at Kootenay Kids, and perhaps once a year advises women who say theysa国际传媒檝e been drugged and sexually assaulted at a Nelson bar.

Theresa国际传媒檚 need for her work. A study released last year by the Canadian Womensa国际传媒檚 Foundation found in sexual activity. Police-reported sexual assaults in Canada also rose by 18 per cent in 2021, according to Statistics Canada.

Despite her efforts, Spears wondered if there might be something more she could do. Maybe, she decided, she could start checking on women before they run into problems.

sa国际传媒淚 could take it even a step further and be out there saying, sa国际传媒楬ey, yousa国际传媒檙e walking a little bit wobbly there. Where are you going? Who are you going with? Do you need a cab? Are you leaving?sa国际传媒檚a国际传媒�

She considered New Yearsa国际传媒檚 Eve, and decided she would go out on her own. Three local bars gave prior approval to visit, and from 10 p.m. to last call Spears and a few others spent the night making sure women were safe.

The night was a success, and earlier this year Interior Health provided $5,000 in funding that Spears uses on supplies and a small stipend to volunteers.

The Mama Bears of Baker Street arensa国际传媒檛 the first such group to take consent education into bars. Good Night Out Vancouver, a non-profit society, leads sexual violence prevention with festivals and bars.

But Spearssa国际传媒� group is new to Nelsonsa国际传媒檚 night life, and hard to miss with their pink bandannas and the word consent in bold on their backpacks. She hopes they become ubiquitous, and welcomed, by the citysa国际传媒檚 bars and patrons.

sa国际传媒淚 want women to know that their safety is important.sa国际传媒�

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| tyler.harper@nelsonstar.com
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