SUNDRE – The municipal council has agreed to support the Mountain View Emergency Shelter Society’s call to raise awareness about the severity of domestic violence in the province.
“Alberta has one of the highest rates of domestic violence in the country,” said Chris Albert, the Town of Sundre's director of corporate services and acting chief administrative officer for the council meeting where the agenda item was introduced.
However, advocacy groups such as the society believe the issue can be confronted and the trend curtailed through efforts to raise awareness about available support services and programs, including campaigns like Family Violence Prevention Month.
Albert said the society submitted a request for the council to declare November as Family Violence Prevention Month in Sundre.
Coun. Jaime Marr so moved the recommended action and said she looked forward to spreading the message.
Speaking in favour of her motion, Coun. Owen Petersen also offered his thoughts.
“Family violence is one of those things that is really hard to see in our community, but we know it’s around,” he said. “So anything we can do as a council to promote education and awareness is important.”
Mayor Richard Warnock agreed, adding that family violence sometimes tends to get “swept under.”
Part of the proclamation calls “upon citizens to help those at risk learn where to turn” and to further “make a difference by helping those affected by family violence know what supports and resources are available to them.”
The statement concludes, “it takes all of us working together to promote healthy relationships and create safer communities.”
The motion was carried unanimously.
To connect with the society, which provides support alongside a non-crisis referral service, either call 403-586-4765 during regular business days or email [email protected]. Alternatively, visit www.mountainviewemergencyshelter.ca/resources to find a list of available resources.
Although the society is a non-crisis service, the staff are there to help build a village of support for those in need, said Tara McDonald, outreach coordinator.
“We’ll help them navigate the resources that they need,” said McDonald, adding that might include connecting them as needed with services or programs such as legal aid and mental health supports as well as shelter and food banks.
However, anyone who is facing an immediate crisis with concerns for their or someone else’s personal safety should call 911.
