The Ottawa Coalition to End Violence Against Women held a community show at city hall Thursday to get men to join the “bro-versation.”
Man Talk, Take Two, hosted by A-Channel host Bill Welychka and University of Ottawa activist Zac Brunet, was timed to mark National Victims of Crime Awareness Week but also to encourage dialogue about the role of men in fighting violence against women.
“I’ve been embarrassed by my own gender too many times,” Welychka said. “It chips away at my spirit to hear about any type of abuse against women.
“Hearing other guys denounce abuse restores my spirit. Real men don’t abuse women.”
As for inviting participants to engage in “bro-versation,” coalition director Erin Williams admitted that was something of a joke: “The point of the event is to engage young people, to engage youth, and so we wanted to use some humour, so whether you like the word or you don’t, it catches your attention.”
The program, a sequel to the first Man Talk event last October, included theatre, spoken word and other presentations by young men on the topic.
“It’s all about healthy relationships, equality, respect and any efforts on violence against women,” Williams said.
