Heather Friesen has never been one to keep quiet.

Now, with her story and message being broadcast nationwide over various mediums, she is louder than ever.

But despite all of the noise she91裸聊视频檚 making, she still feels unheard.

As first reported in the 91裸聊视频 on Oct. 25, Statistics Canada data shows the Kelowna RCMP deemed almost 40 per cent of sexual assault reports as 91裸聊视频渦nfounded91裸聊视频� in 2018.

Since then, Friesen, who was allegedly gang raped when she was 15 years old, has been on a warpath, saying that both the Kelowna RCMP and the City of Kelowna are 91裸聊视频渟teeped in rape culture.91裸聊视频�

In an endeavour to bring the breadth of her disdain to the attention of city officials 91裸聊视频� specifically Mayor Colin Basran 91裸聊视频� she staged her own one-person protest in front of city hall on Thursday morning (Nov. 14). She spent the morning leaving flyers on vehicles around city hall which called out the mayor for being a 91裸聊视频渕an who protects rapists because he won91裸聊视频檛 call out the RCMP.91裸聊视频�

READ MORE: Kelowna RCMP vow to review 91裸聊视频榰nfounded91裸聊视频� sexual assault cases

READ MORE: 91裸聊视频楽teeped in rape culture91裸聊视频�: Sexual assault survivor speaks out against Kelowna RCMP

In particular, Friesen has taken issue with the mayor91裸聊视频檚 response to the statistics, in which he cited his confidence in the local RCMP.

91裸聊视频淚 don91裸聊视频檛 have anything further to add except that I91裸聊视频檓 pleased that the RCMP91裸聊视频檚 Sexual Assault Review Team is taking a further look at all the files to determine if a course correction is needed as it relates to sex-assault complaints,91裸聊视频� said Mayor Colin Basran.

91裸聊视频淭hrough these actions, I have complete confidence our detachment is taking this matter seriously. I want to be clear that the RCMP operates independently of the city and this is an RCMP matter. Any further questions should be directed to the RCMP detachment.91裸聊视频�

The mayor91裸聊视频檚 confidence in local RCMP is, in Friesen91裸聊视频檚 view, a sign of the mayor91裸聊视频檚 direct support for the officers who asked her if she consented to be raped and another survivor who was asked if she enjoyed it.

91裸聊视频淪ay that to our faces,91裸聊视频� she said.

91裸聊视频淚91裸聊视频檓 just here to protest because I actually want Colin Basran to have the courage to come say to my face that he91裸聊视频檚 100 per cent confident in the RCMP. Say that to the 40 per cent.91裸聊视频�

According to Friesen, Basran is complicit in the city91裸聊视频檚 looming rape culture because he doesn91裸聊视频檛 understand it as he is in a position of privilege.

91裸聊视频淎nyone that he knows who gets raped, the RCMP will take it seriously,91裸聊视频� she said while standing outside of city hall, still holding about half of the 200 flyers she91裸聊视频檇 brought with her.

91裸聊视频淗e91裸聊视频檚 protected; the people he loves are protected. Those of us who don91裸聊视频檛 have his privilege won91裸聊视频檛 get taken seriously.

91裸聊视频淗e doesn91裸聊视频檛 want to get it because he91裸聊视频檒l lose votes; he91裸聊视频檒l lose (the RCMP91裸聊视频檚) votes.91裸聊视频�

While Basran has expressed his confidence in the RCMP, one of his councillors is less supportive about the situation.

91裸聊视频淚 have a lot of regard and faith in our local RCMP. Having said that, the stats are very, very worrisome 91裸聊视频� whichever way you look at it,91裸聊视频� said Coun. Mohini Singh.

91裸聊视频淚 need some clarity, I need some explanation, I need to know why these cases were left unfounded.91裸聊视频�

Singh added she has a teenage daughter and she wants to make sure the city is safe for our girls and our boys.

91裸聊视频淚 want to know why the stats are so high and what the cause is,91裸聊视频� she said.

91裸聊视频淚91裸聊视频檓 very worried about the situation.91裸聊视频�

Singh said she91裸聊视频檚 looking forward to a report from the RCMP91裸聊视频檚 Sexual Assault Review Team to provide clarity on the issue.

In a Nov. 8 statement, the Kelowna RCMP said it could not provide an explanation as to why so many cases were deemed unfounded.

91裸聊视频淲e understand that there are many questions about the roots of these statistics, and we91裸聊视频檙e taking immediate steps to get answers,91裸聊视频� said Cpl. Meghan Foster.

91裸聊视频淭he BC RCMP has conducted a preliminary review of these files, but we are currently not in a position to provide specific examples of why any of these investigations were deemed unfounded. For every investigation, there are many variables 91裸聊视频� each investigation is different and we do not want to deter any other survivors from bravely coming forward to report a sexual assault.91裸聊视频�

The RCMP has not given a timeline as to when the Sexual Assault Review Team91裸聊视频檚 investigation will be completed.

michael.rodriguez@kelownacapnews.com
Like us on and follow us on .