A Canadian actress who was at the centre of the widely publicized sexual assault trial of former CBC host Jian Ghomeshi will speak at Fanshawe College Thursday.
Lucy DeCoutere, former Trailer Park Boys star and Royal Canadian Air Force officer, will share her story of surviving sexual violence at the college's latest Redtalks lecture series at the Alumni Lecture Theatre at 9 a.m. The 48-year-old will also discuss the resilience she developed after coming forward publicly in 2014 with sexual assault allegations.
DeCoutere was one of several women who accused Ghomeshi of sexual abuse and overcoming resistance by choking. She and two other women testified at his trial two years ago. He was ultimately acquitted of all five charges against him.
The one hour talk opens Sexual Violence Prevention Month at the college.
DeCoutere lives in Halifax and has a graduate diploma in communication studies from Concordia University.
The Redtalk lecture series was first launched in 2016 and provides students a chance to hear from featured speakers on topical issues. Previous guest lecturers have included futurists Brian David Johnson and Richard Worzel and Canadian Olympic hero and best-selling author Silken Laumann.
