Unwelcome

Sexual Harassment, Sexual Discrimination, Sexual Assault, and Rape in the Canadian Forces

Captain Dawn Ottman joined the Canadian military in 1978 when she was 18. Canada was for the underdog – and Ottman, having spent her childhood in poverty and protecting her sister from bullies – was both an underdog and a champion of them herself. She happily put her life on the line for her country.

From the beginning, Ottman endured harassment and insults for being a woman. After one early incident, she went to the military police. She was told no one would ever take her word over that of the officer. Determined to excel, Ottman rose through the ranks and became Canada’s first female space scientist. Still, the abuse continued.