ATHABASCA - November is Family Violence Prevention Month, and fittingly enough, two organizations — one local and one provincewide — are reaching out to assist victims of family violence the best they can.
The Athabasca and Area Prevention of Relationship Abuse Committee (PRAAC) wrapped up its annual fundraiser last week, passing its goal of raising $15,000 needed to keep operating after a weeks-long online campaign that due to the pandemic replaced the annual Walk a Mile in Her Shoes event held in September with the “I Never Told Anyone” video that told the true story of a relationship abuse survivor.
“As of Nov. 1, the Athabasca community has generously donated $16,550.75,” said Tamara Yurchak, secretary for PRAAC. “A few more donations have been committed and yet to be received, so we know that the final amount will be higher.”
Funds raised through PRAAC stay in the Athabasca region, providing financial support to the THRIVE program operated by Healthy Families Healthy Futures. THRIVE is a free, confidential support program for any individual in the Athabasca region coping with the many forms of relationship abuse and is available to all ages and genders.
Legal support is also available through Legal Aid Alberta, which has extended an after-hours program offering support for victims of family violence to the end of November, citing a 10 per cent increase in requests for emergency protection orders (EPOs) at the Edmonton LAA office alone, said senior advisory counsel Andrea Doyle.
“It's a service that we've been asked to provide to assist victims of domestic violence during this very unusual time, because we're seeing an increase sort of across the board in situations of domestic violence and people who just need some advice and some assistance,” Doyle said.
The service has always been available during office hours in Edmonton and Calgary with outlying areas getting assistance from the RCMP or local police to obtain the EPO, but the extended hours now allows more people to access legal help to ensure the EPO meets the criteria.
“During COVID to make it even broader for people to get that assistance, they opened it up a bit more to allow applicants – victims of domestic violence – to bring those applications on their own even if the police weren't able to assist them,” said Doyle. “And it's those people we're really trying to help out; those who would be going all by themselves virtually or over the phone before a justice of the peace and not really knowing what evidence they need to provide and what the requirements are under the legislation.”
Legal Aid Alberta also provides the service without charge and to anyone who needs it; there is no need to qualify as low-income, like other programs they offer.
“It's one of those few services that we have, with the emergency protection order programs, where there's no financial eligibility criteria, it's a free of charge service for individuals,” Doyle said.
Victims of domestic violence are encouraged to contact Provincial Court EPO duty counsel in Edmonton at 780-442-4730 to get free legal advice on their particular situation.
More information about THRIVE can be found at https://www.hfhf.ca/programs/thrive and the THRIVE outreach mentor in Athabasca can be reached directly at 780-519-0577.
Donations to PRAAC are accepted all year, but the main fundraising campaign is over. Visit wamathbasca.ca for secure, online donations. Cheques and cash can also be dropped off at Royal LePage County Realty at 4819-49 St in Athabasca.
Heather Stocking, TownandCountryToday.com
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