Content warning: this may be difficult to read as the content refers to sexual harassment in the workplace.

Ballet Victoria is employing a known sexual predator. Bruce Monk was already fired from the Royal Winnipeg Ballet for allegedly taking nude photos of underage dancers. Right now, the company's executive director, Paul Destrooper, is standing behind this abuser, refusing to believe survivors and endangering the safety of the company’s dancers. 

The Royal Bank of Canada, 98.5 The Ocean, Hotel Grand Pacific and the Times Colonist are a number of Ballet Victoria’s biggest sponsors. By standing idly by while Ballet Victoria’s executive director denies sexual harassment claims and work with a known abuser, they are supporting further threats of workplace sexual violence to the dancers.

Right now, we are in a powerful moment in history where sexual abuse is being called out and condemned across the entire entertainment industry. Now, we need these major sponsors to show that they stand with survivors and call on Ballet Victoria to stop working with Bruce Monk, and tell its executive director to step down. 

Sign now to tell Royal Bank, 98.5 The Ocean, and other Ballet Victoria sponsors to pull financial support until Paul Destrooper and Bruce Monk are no longer employed there.

Bruce Monk was accused of taking nude pictures by multiple women in the Royal Winnipeg Ballet during his time employed as a photographer. The dance company eventually fired him after a criminal investigation. The Crown chose not to lay charges because there was not enough evidence for a conviction.

This is too typical an experience for many women who come forward against workplace sexual violence. But we can still get justice and safety for these workers if we come together now. 

Unsurprisingly, given the prevalence and cultural acceptance of sexual workplace violence, Ballet Victoria's executive director has stated that he will continue to work with Monk, despite several board members stepping down due to his employment. Ballet Victoria’s corporate sponsors, by not speaking out against Ballet Victoria’s executive director, are sending a strong message to survivors: your experiences don’t matter.

Royal Bank and other corporate sponsors have the responsibility to speak out against the executive director and the employment of Bruce Monk. By pulling their financial backing until these two are fired, the sponsors are showing that workplace sexual harassment is a serious issue and should not be taken lightly.

Will you join me in signing today to tell Royal Bank, 98.5 The Ocean, and other Ballet Victoria sponsors to pull financial support until Paul Destrooper and Bruce Monk are no longer employed there?