This week, a fundraiser was set up by Dean Bayles of Coldwell Banker Oceanside Real Estate for the Victoria Sexual Assault Centre after two Victoria real estate agents were fired amid sexual allegations on social media last week.
The fundraiser which launched Sunday has garnered nearly $100,000, as of this publication on March 29th.
“As a collective of agents we’re upset and deeply disturbed with the recent information that has become public. We’d like to show our support for the women of Victoria that are dealing with the heavy burden of being sexually abused,” said the fundraiser.
“This is not ok and we hear you. Through this donation we want all women who have suffered to know: we support you and honour you for being so brave.”
Local real estate agencies have donated, like Sotheby’s International Realty Canada.
The fundraiser was prompted after, last week, three real estate agents were fired following a woman’s allegations on social media that she was sexually assaulted by them.
The Agency released a statement saying that they were “aware of the very serious social media allegations” towards the two agents, and were “shocked and deeply disturbed by the accusations.”
According to the initial post on the Instagram account “Survivor Stories Project”, both agents worked for another company, Engel & Volkers, at the time the assaults occurred.
The Survivor Stories Project shares anonymous reports of sexualized and domestic violence.
Three more incidents have surfaced on the Survivor Stories Project Instagram account since the initial post, accusing each one of the men of separate instances of sexual assault.
There have been no charges laid in connection to these allegations, and Victoria Police say that though they are aware of the posts, no victims have come forward to make a formal report as of yet.
A third realtor in Victoria was also fired by their employer after sexual assault accusations surfaced online.
Engel & Volkers Vancouver Island released a statement Saturday saying that a real estate agent recently accused of sexual assault no longer works for them.
The Victoria Sexual Assault Centre supports survivors of sexual assault and childhood sexual abuse.
