Grades 10 and 11 packed the gym for the first presentation. Grades 9 and 12 went after. (Photo by Aaron Wilgosh)

Break the silence on violence against women. That was the message delivered by Blue Bombers Ian Wild and Matthias Goossen at a seminar for Portage Collegiate Institute students today.

Wild and Goossen have been doing the presentation for a couple of seasons now and both feel strongly it's something that needs to be brought up with young adults.

"We've reached a good amount of kids," says Wild. "I like using my platform as a football player to spread a good message, and if these kids are going to listen to me just because I play football, then I'm going to do whatever I can to help them in their life. That's pretty much why I got involved."

Ian Wild (left) and Matthias Goossman speaking to the students. (Photo by Aaron Wilgosh)

Grade 11 student Morgan Klassen thought they delivered a good message about something that doesn't get talked about enough.

"I think it's important for football players like that to speak about this because people look up to them. They talked a lot about victim shaming and I thought that was one of the most important parts of the presentation and the way they almost took the blame saying it is men's fault. It was good for the boys in our grade to hear that."

"We hit about 10 or 15 of these a year," says Goosen. "When we started I was not very educated about this subject and the more I learn, the more I look into it, it's almost impossible to not be completely for this cause. The numbers are depressing, and it's so important we talk about and address these things. A lot of men are taught things subliminally when they're growing up that they don't even know are bad."

Grade 11's Morgan Klassen and Danny Lee sat in for the first presentation Apr. 11, 2017. (Photo by Aaron Wilgosh)

Grade 11 Danny Lee thought they did a great job because people look up to football players and if they can stand up, we should too.

"I thought all of this was needed to be heard because guys at party's do stupid things, and they don't think when they should, but this brought up a lot about that. People really look up to them and if they can stand up for this, we should too."

Click here to learn more about the Winnipeg Blue Bombers Break the Silence seminar.