By Nelli Richardson, Executive Director, Revelstoke Women’s Shelter Society
Prevention of Violence Against Women Week began on Sunday, April 14 and continued until this Saturday, April 20. This week is an opportunity to acknowledge that violence against women has serious adverse physical, psychological, sexual, financial and cultural impacts on women, children, families and communities.
This week also provides the opportunity to let women know they are not alone, and that help and support are available to women who are victims of all types of violence.
All of us at the Revelstoke Women’s Shelter Society believe that violence against women is not acceptable in Revelstoke or indeed anywhere, and that all women have the right to feel safe and to live free from violence. Over the last few years, we have housed as many as 94 women and 33 children in one year. We have been at capacity or over 105 times in a year.
Each of these statistics represents someone’s mother, wife, sister, daughter, granddaughter, grandmother, aunt, niece, friend or neighbour. Each of these statistics represents someone in this community that has been impacted by violence. The reality is that violence does exist in Revelstoke.
If you or any woman you know is being impacted by violence, please encourage her to call our crisis line at 250-837-1111. We are here to help. Together we can make our community safer and promote the clear message that violence and abuse in any form will not be tolerated.