Left to right, Mandy Melanson (Catholic Family Services of the Battlefords), Debbie Kovalsky (Battlefords Interval House) and Erin Woytiuk (Living Sky School Division) gather for the Day of Remembrance in North Battleford Friday. (Angela Brown/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Angela Brown

Day of Remembrance

Day of Remembrance honours all women affected by violence

Dec 6, 2019 | 5:00 PM

It was a solemn occasion at Battlefords Interval House Friday when youth and community members gathered around a candle lit to honour all women who have been victims of violence.

The vigil marked the National Day of Remembrance to recognize the 14 women who were killed by a gunman in the Montreal Massacre at the École Polytechnique on Dec. 6, 1989.

Debbie Kovalsky of Battlefords Interval House, Mandy Melanson of Catholic Family Services of the Battlefords, as well as Erin Woytiuk with Living Sky School Division and Light of Christ Catholic School Division led the vigil.

Kovalsky said Interval House, which provides shelter to women fleeing violence, also offers women in its care and those in the community support, whether they are victims from domestic abuse or other types of trauma.

The executive director said one-on-one support and group programs are available to help women impacted by violence.

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As well Catholic Family Services of the Battlefords also provides counselling services to women at Interval House and in the community.

Erin Woytiuk, mental health capacity-building initiative co-ordinator with Living Sky School Division, and Light of Christ Catholic School Division, said gender-based violence continues to be a serious problem in society today and the local area.

Statistics show over 50 per cent of Canadian women will experience violence at some point in their lives. The rate of violence against women in Saskatchewan is almost double the national average. Statistics Canada’s Transition Home Survey indicated Saskatchewan has the highest rate among the provinces of women residing in shelters due to spousal abuse.

On a local level, Battlefords Interval House continues to experience high numbers using its services. It helped 128 women and 134 children over the last year.

Those who are impacted by violence also struggle with mental health challenges, Woytiuk said.

She and her team help youth learn about what it means to have healthy relationships, to recognize forms of violence and help them avoid the potential of becoming the victim of an abusive relationship.

Woytiuk hopes through education more males in the community recognize “how to be respectful to themselves and to others so then we can combat violence against everyone.”

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angela.brown@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @battlefordsnow