INNISFAIL – Purple lights have been glowing at the Town of Innisfail’s municipal office.
It is the colour of family violence prevention.
On Oct. 24, Kristen MacKenzie, the new manager of community and social services for the Town Innisfail, appeared before town council with a recommended motion to have November proclaimed Family Violence Prevention Month, which has been done in town since 2017.
Council unanimously approved the motion to declare November as Family Violence Prevention Month.
Along with the proclamation, council was told there would be many more purple lights for sale at the Innisfail Library/Learning Centre where the town hosted the 8th Annual Creating a Vision for Non-Violence Conference on Nov. 4.
“The municipality continues to remain engaged with our regional vision for non-violence coalition which is comprised of 16 other regional communities with the acknowledgement of the impact that family violence continues to have on our residents and communities,” said MacKenzie in her presentation to council. “We are working alongside community partners to support conversations and programming throughout the month around healthy relationships. We have some great community members who are very actively involved.”
The conference on Nov. 4 attracted an audience of about 75 and featured several speakers.
Lisa Robinson and Erika Fetterly talked about the Violence Free Innisfail Grassroots Movement. There was a sharing of experience from Ashley Christofferson.
Debra deWaal talked about “Creating a Safer World” and led participants in a facilitated discussion and development of toolbox activities that can be applied to their communities and roles.
“It's great to see the community come out. It's great to see our community partners come out and be here in support,” said MacKenzie, who came to Innisfail on Aug. 22 after serving the Town as Blackfalds for seven years as its FCSS youth programmer. MacKenzie’s new position also includes overseeing recreation and cultural programming in the Town of Innisfail.
The non-violence conference on Nov. 4 was MacKenzie’s first major public project in Innisfail.
In her presentation to town council, MacKenzie noted Family Violence Prevention Month in Alberta started in 1986 in Hinton where Alberta's first family violence education and prevention campaign was launched.
That initiative led to the expansion of social supports and services for individuals and families in the areas of prevention, protection and rehabilitation, said MacKenzie, adding the Alberta legislature has recognized every November as Family Violence Prevention Month in the province.
While that legacy continues today, Alberta has the third highest rate of self-reported spousal violence among Canadian provinces.
“The lovely part about Family Violence Prevention Month, despite the fact that it's a very heavy issue, is the fact this is an opportunity to increase awareness around the supports and the resources that are available regionally as well as within the Innisfail community,” said MacKenzie.
“And using that to work towards hopefully ending family violence, and just building healthier relationships in our communities.”
