November is Family Violence Prevention Month in Alberta

November 1 marks the beginning of Family Violence Prevention Month in Alberta. Throughout the month, the Whitecourt Family Violence Initiative (FVI) is hosting events and providing information to help spread awareness of the impact of family violence, along with resources for those who need help.

Looking at data from 2019, before the stress of restrictions over the last three years came into play, police-reported family violence had increased for the third straight year in Canada. That year, there were approximately 400,000 victims of police-reported violence. A quarter of those, about 100,000 people, were victimized by a family member. For adults and youth, females accounted for 67 percent of all family violence.

Family violence perpetrated by a spouse was reported to the police most, with thirty-one percent. Violence from a parent was next, at twenty percent, followed by a former spouse at thirteen percent, a sibling (eleven percent), or the victim’s child (eleven percent. The number one type of assault in family violence cases is physical, affecting seven in ten.

When broken down by province, Saskatchewan and Manitoba have the highest rates of police-reported family violence. Alberta is the third highest. Given that family violence is preventable, the push to help those dealing with it and raise awareness of it is high. With a whole month of awareness-raising lined up, the FVI hopes community members will take part and help bring an end to family violence.

“Throughout the month, it is a time for promoting change in attitudes and behaviours as we strive to address and reduce incidents of family violence in our community,” explained Chelsea Grande, the Town’s Director of Community Services, during a meeting of Town Council last month.

“The Family Violence Initiative is hosting and promoting six community prevention events and activities this November, including the Shine A Light Event on November 1, where the community is asked to shine glow sticks in their windows or put on their outdoor holiday lights in purple,” she explained. Residents can also leave their porch lights on through the night.

The next event is on Thursday, November 3, at Smitty’s Lounge. “Pub Foods with the Dudes is a new event replacing Breakfast with the Guys. There’s a guest speaker, Michael Hoyt, coming to speak. He will also be speaking in the schools with males as well,” said Grande. The evening event at Smitty’s starts at 7 pm, and tickets are only $20. All who attend with be entered to win a sports-themed gift basket donated by Smitty’s Family Restaurant. Attendees must be 18 or older. Hoyt, a social worker for the last thirty years, aims to strengthen community engagement of men and boys in preventing violence against women.

On Friday, November 25, staff from the FVI will distribute purple ribbons and glow sticks at the Wolverines home game. A moment of silence, illuminated by the purple glow sticks, will honour those injured or killed due to family violence.

“We will also distribute Family Violence Prevention kits throughout the month to different businesses and agencies. We will also be putting out the awareness banner on the CN bridge and distributing beverage coasters throughout establishments in Whitecourt,” explained Grande. The hashtags #GoPurpleAB and #WhereToTurn will be used monthlong to help further increase awareness. The distributed kits will have items to display or share in client waiting rooms, cashier check-out areas, reception spots and coffee break spaces. Inside there will be information on healthy relationships, how to support victims, and a wallet-sized booklet with tons of information on family violence, including how to mitigate, process and leave an abusive relationship.

Grande said the kits had been very well received by the community in the past. She said that businesses and organizations that place kits in a staff room, for example, could help inform employees of what to do if someone discloses that they are dealing with family violence.

For more information on Family Violence Prevention Month or to receive a kit at your business or organization, visit www.whitecourtfvi.ca or call 780-268-0545. Website visitors are met with a powerful statement on the opening page; the only thing stronger than fear is hope. The site features program opportunities for adults and children and resources like Clare’s Law. Named after a young woman killed by an ex, Clare’s Law allows women to see if their partner has a legal history (domestic violence, stalking/harassment, breaches of no contact orders, or other relevant acts).