UPDATED — April 19, 10:20 a.m.
Sixty men donned bright red, three-inch-tall heels to walk a mile around civic square to raise money and awareness about violence against women on April 18.
The aim of the march, held for the first time in Greater Sudbury, was to raise money for YWCA programs as well as raise awareness about violence against women. National victim awareness week runs April 18-24.
Participants donned the bright red shoes and walked around downtown, from Tom Davies Square, up Minto Street by the arena, around to Shaughnessy Street by the Fire station, back down Brady Street and back to the square.
Northern Life publisher Abbas Homayed, Sudbury MP Glenn Thibeault, Greater Sudbury Mayor John Rodriguez, and police Chief Frank Elsner were just a few of the 60 marchers to take a walk in the red shoes.
The cause of the march touched close to home for several participants, who said they kept memories of abused mothers and sisters close to their hearts.
"I walked a mile in her shoes to support my mother, who was abused when I was young, (and) my sisters who were abused when they were growing up," Wilf Arnold, one of the marchers, said.
Many of the marchers were accompanied by wives and children, who cheered them on and helped them along as they walked in the tall shoes.
The march was a joint project of the Greater Sudbury Police Service and YWCA Sudbury.
Elsner noted there were reasons he wanted to have the police involved with the event, both professionally and on a personal level.
"As a dad with girls, I really want to create an environment and community where domestic violence is the exception, (where domestic violence) is something that's not a real concern for us as a community," he said.
"(And) as a police service, we deal with this every day, and unfortunately far too often.”
The event began downtown at Tom Davies Square at 10:30 a.m. with opening remarks. Participants began to stretch and practise walking in their shoes before starting the walk at 11 a.m.
By the time the march was complete, around 11:20 a.m., most men appeared to be relieved to take off the red heels, and get back into their shoes.
"How do you do it?" the mayor asked a female photographer, as he stood for a snapshot with the red heels on.
Inside, after the walk was complete, some of the marchers shared how their feet felt after the 15 minute jaunt in heels.
"My toes are killing me, but it was for a great cause so I'm very happy I did it," Arnold said.
Thibeault noted: "This is the first time I've worn heels," but said he would take part next year, despite the pain he felt from wearing the shoes.
Marlene Gorman, executive director of YWCA Sudbury, praised the walkers.
"They did excellent," she said. "They went around civic square. The timing was great. They were back in next to no time, great spirits, we saw a few strutting their stuff down the walkway. They were just really great sports."
All money raised from the Walk A Mile event go to the YWCA Sudbury’s Turning Point Programs for Women, providing support services for women and children escaping intimate partner abuse, and prevention programs for girls aged 12 to 16.
The Walk a Mile in her Shoes march began in California, and since then has spread across the United States, Canada, and world-wide. While it is the first time the event is happening in Greater Sudbury, it has run successfully in Vancouver, Calgary, and Toronto.
"They are taking a step in red stilettos, actually symbolic of women taking that first step away from violence," Gorman said.
For more information about YWCA Sudbury programs, visit www.ywcasudbury.ca.
