Friday October 7, 2011

Community

Getting To The Root Of Domestic Violence

Purple lights on City Hall tree show victims the community cares  

Staff/Voice photos

Purple lights in support of victims of domestic abuse blinked on Tuesday at City Hall.

ome is where the heart is and it's supposed to be our refuge too. But sadly, too often that's not the case and what should be safe places are war zones.

The toll domestic violence takes on the family is traumatic and permanently damaging to those on the receiving end. Kids get the worst possible start on life if they're raised in an abusive environment.

For the victims, nothing is worse than having their security and well-being compromised. And when it comes to violence in the home, even the pets aren't safe. Research indicates that men who are abusive towards animals are likely to be abusive to their partners and children.

Although less frequent, domestic violence can happen to men as well, but any way you slice it, domestic assault is an attack on the entire community, who are often left to pick up the pieces of shattered lives and try to reassemble them.

Each year the Ann Davis Society lights a tree adorned with purple lights in support of victims of domestic violence and on Tuesday, Chilliwack City Councillors Ken Huttema, Stewart McLean and Chuck Stam together flipped a switch to light it up.

The councillors were joined by the mayor, members of the Ann Davis Society, Chilliwack Victims Services and a couple of dozen supporters who gathered at City Hall for the dedication.

According to the Ann Davis website, almost 30 per cent of all women have experienced violence from a partner, and women in abusive relationships who decide to call police, do so only after being assaulted as many as 35 times. Additionally, they are 13 times more likely to be hurt in their own homes, than by a stranger on the street, but many incidents go under the radar.

Last year, Chilliwack's Specialized Victim Assistance (CSVA) coordinator Beverly Coles, who also chairs also chairs the Violence Against Women in Relationships Committee told the Voice that at the time of the tree-lighting, they had 58 domestic abuse cases referred to them by police and the medical community which arose out of the 105 cases of sexual assault and 296 incidents of family violence.

"It's (CVSA) is made up of key players in the system who work with domestic violence situations and brainstorm and ensure the system is working well, and identify gaps and try to problem-solve," said Coles.

"We keep people safe and try to help those people deal with their situation," she said then. "People don't necessarily report, so that doesn't cover it all."

As much as the victims need assistance to be in a safer place, the perpetrators need help as well.

This month, the Ann Davis Society is urging people to buy a purple light and show their support to victims. The lights are being sold by donation at Logan’s Home Hardware, Vedder Home Hardware, Chilliwack Community Services, Mary’s Uniforms, Ann Davis Transition Society on Young Rd, Ken's Tires and Wheels, Nuggets Used Books, Shear Shop Hair Design, The Bookman, UFV Student Services Society, Vancity, Video Tonight and at City Hall on Young Rd.

If you find yourself in an abusive relationship, don't wait until it's too late to get help.

For more information on how to get help in Chilliwack contact the Ann Davis Transition Society, 9046 Young Road, 604-792-2760 or Specialized Victim Assistance at 604-793-7211 or visit: www.anndavis.org 

Those in Hope BC can contact: Heather Garfield, House Manager, Hope Transition Society at 604-869-5191.

For information on Purple Light Nights across North America visit: www.purplelightnights.org 

See more photos below.

The end of the gallery. Thanks for looking.

Please do what you can to help end violence in the home.