Sexual assault calls rise after high-profile stories

Recent allegations of sexual assault involving high-profile people has led to a spike in calls to the Sexual Assault Centre of Edmonton.

“Certainly with high-profile people being talked about in the media, there has been a real swelling of the number of our clients calling the 24-hour crisis line and those who are asking to come in for counselling,” said Karen Smith, executive director.

The number of calls began to grow just days after CBC fired host Jian Ghomeshi in late October and after former deputy prime minister Sheila Copps said she had been sexually assaulted and raped.

"On our crisis line we had over 150 calls come in in the last couple of weeks when we might typically have about 50 in a week," Smith said.

"People calling our business line wanting to make an appointment we would typically have two or three a day," she said. "In the last week it was 49."

Several women have made detailed allegations of violence at Ghomeshi's hands claiming they were choked or punched without their consent.

Ghomeshi said any acts of violence or rough sexual play he engaged in were consensual.

Toronto police are investigating but no charges have been laid.

Most of the calls coming to the sexual assault centre are "historical," happening 10 or 20 years ago, Smith said.

"People think this has only happened to me, they're ashamed, they're embarrassed,” she said. “Now they've seen people come forward and say, 'Okay now I'm ready to get help.'"