The issue of domestic violence was brought out into the open Thursday at a relationship violence awareness event in Merritt’s Spirit Square downtown.
The event was organized by Merritt’s Violence Against Women in Relationships (VAWIR) committee, which comprises representatives from several social service agencies including Victim Services, RCMP, ASK Wellness, Interior Community Services, School District 58, Scw’exmx Child and Family Services and Nicola Family Therapy.
Many of the agencies set up booths with pamphlets and other informational items inside the Fireside Centre, which had its doors open to the public between 1 and 4 p.m. that day.
The event was intended to raise awareness of domestic violence and the services around town that are available to help those in abusive relationships.
“Sadly, the statistics here in our community indicate that 32 per cent of the calls to our local RCMP detachment are dealing with domestic violence,” Interior Community Services program co-ordinator and VAWIR committee member Chelsea Morrey said. “We also know that many victims fail to report and those statistics are likely higher than 32 per cent.”
She said it’s likely people don’t report incidents of domestic violence because they don’t feel safe or supported in doing so.
“We’re here to stop the violence and allow them the safety to come forward,” Morrey said.
Participants went on a march around Merritt’s downtown core to show solidarity with victims of relationship violence who have come forward and show the community support behind those who haven’t.
“This march is signifying all of the support that we want to give to the victims who have come forward and those who are scared to come forward, to show our solidarity,” Morrey said. “There is help in our community, our community is healthy and we have amazing agencies that are here to provide those supports to you.”
Women at the event wore purple ribbons to show their support for the cause, while men sported white ribbons.
Members of the Merritt Fire Rescue Department and RCMP led the march holding a banner proclaiming “Relationship violence ends here.”
About 75 people took part in the march.
Lifelong Merrittonian and early childhood development consultant Sue Sterling shared her experience with relationship violence with the crowd.
That included different types of abuse she experienced and saw around her growing up, and which carried on into her early adulthood in her romantic relationships.
She said after years of being in an abusive relationship, she sought support from her family and community and has not looked back since.
“I think we cannot express enough the importance of healthy relationships and putting a stop to domestic violence not only for women and children but for men as well,” she said.
She said self-love is the key message to stopping the violence.
Sterling, who also sits on the board for Nicola Family Therapy, said that agency alone provides counselling services to about 100 women affected by domestic violence each year, while the children who witness violence program sees about 90 children a year in Merritt.
The issue of relationship violence is not a private one — it affects the whole community, city councillor Diana Norgaard told the crowd.
Norgaard said ending relationship violence is important to her in two capacities: as a mental health clinician for 20 years, and as a representative of the City of Merritt.
“Every act of relationship violence damages individuals, families and our community and we need to stop that,” she said.
“It’s not a private issue. It’s not even solely a family issue. It’s an issue for the whole community.
“Interpersonal violence costs us dearly. Some costs are obvious — the costs to our health system, our justice system, our mental health system, our child protection system, and our system for social assistance.
“The human costs are, of course, alcohol and drug use, failure to attain education, loss of job opportunities, which then of course affects us in terms of consumer power.”
She said the ultimate cost is loss of vitality in the community.
Norgaard also read the City of Merritt’s proclamation for Relationship Violence Awareness Week, which took place from April 12 to 18.
“We’re going to work as a community to stop this and make this community healthy,” Morrey said.
For help with domestic violence or to find services, call victim link at 1-800-563-0808.
