Last week (Friday, May 25), the Central Alberta Sexual Assault Support Centre (CASASC) hosted their Respect Day event at Red Deer City Hall from 3 until 6 pm.

If you didn't smell the food or see the crowd, you definitely heard the music.

CASASC Executive director, Patricia Arango

The event featured a free barbeque for all attendees, free respect-themed shirts, information booths, a live band, and dancing.

Victims of sexual assault, supporters, and those who were willing to make a difference made up the majority of the crowd.

Dianne Macaulay, trustee with Red Deer Public schools, said the Respect Day event helped raise awareness in numerous areas about the differences in the community.

"... Let's learn about transgender, let's learn about safe spaces, let's learn about the sexual assault center, let's learn about the things in our community that make us a community".

Also present at the event, CASASC Executive Director, Patricia Arango, said the event was a movement to change negative stereotypes and raise the levels of respect.

She says CASASC is inviting people to change their lifestyle to one of respect, which involves not only respecting yourself but respecting everybody.

Arango encourages anyone seeking help or information to contact CASASC; they're open 24 hours and offer online help, phone calls, and texting services.