On a Friday afternoon in downtown Red Deer, a curious sight will unfold: grown men, some in business suits, some in rugby jerseys, some in police uniforms, all teetering along the sidewalks in red high-heeled shoes. It's a scene that draws smiles and double-takes, but beneath the playful wobble lies a serious purpose. The Walk a Mile in HER Shoes fundraiser, organized by The Outreach Centre, returns to Red Deer on Friday, September 11, 2026, at noon, inviting Central Albertans to literally walk a mile in women's shoes to raise funds and awareness for survivors of gender-based and family violence.
The event is part of a global movement that began in 2001, when Frank Baird and Patti Dengler created Walk a Mile in Her Shoes as a men's march to stop rape, sexual assault, and gender violence. The idea was simple and powerful: there's an old saying that you can't understand another person's experience until you've walked a mile in their shoes. Baird and Dengler took that literally, asking men to strap on women's high heels and walk a mile. What started as a small group of men tottering around a park has grown into a worldwide phenomenon, with tens of thousands of participants raising millions of dollars for rape crisis centers, domestic violence shelters, and education programs.
The philosophy behind the walk is as much about conversation as it is about fundraising. "It's not easy walking in these shoes. It can be surprising, disorienting, and disruptive," the movement's organizers note. "It's a fun event that gets the community to talk about gender identity, gender relations, and men's sexualized violence." That conversation is critical, they argue, because sexualized violence thrives in silence. "While hidden away, sexualized violence is immune to cure," the movement's materials state. "We must talk about the causes, effects, and solutions to ending men's sexualized violence. And we must act. We must act fearlessly."
In Red Deer, the walk has become a beloved annual tradition. The event is the signature fundraiser for The Outreach Centre, an organization with deep roots in the community. The Central Alberta Women's Outreach Society (CAWOS) opened its doors in 1984 as an agency devoted to supporting women affected by family violence. Over the decades, it has expanded its mandate to address domestic violence, suicide, homelessness, and poverty.
The funds raised by the walk support a wide range of programs, including emergency and transitional housing, safety planning, advocacy, and other supports for individuals and families experiencing gender-based and family violence.
The 2026 event kicks off at noon with a community barbecue provided by Central Alberta Co-op, before participants set off on the walk through downtown Red Deer. Afterward, a social hour will be held at Troubled Monk, where every registered participant receives a complimentary drink voucher. Prizes will be awarded to the top individual fundraiser and the top fundraising team. Presenting sponsors Scotia Wealth Management: The Zukiwsky Group and Scotiabank will match every dollar raised, doubling the impact of each donation.
The Outreach Centre encourages participants to aim for a minimum individual fundraising goal of $200, noting that raising $1,000 can help provide shelter for survivors for one month.
For participants, the experience is often both humbling and eye-opening. The walk is designed to spark conversation about a topic that is often hidden: gender-based and family violence.
Registration for the 2026 walk is now open, and participants can sign up individually or as part of a team. Businesses and organizations interested in sponsoring the event are encouraged to contact The Outreach Centre. Whether you're a seasoned walker or a first-timer, the invitation is the same: come downtown on September 11, put on a pair of heels, and take a mile-long step toward ending gender-based violence in Central Alberta.