Conversation

Everyday we engage in conversations with the people who surround us. Some of those conversations will be about the weather, the ball game or what’s happening in our lives right now. How much we share and what we discuss is determined by how well we know a person, how comfortable the topic is, and whether the person we’re talking with might be interested in what we have to say.

However, there are some topics we don’t talk about with anyone. And others that take a great deal of courage. Alberta has one of the highest rates of family violence and abuse in Canada; yet abuse remains a silent issue that is rarely the topic of conversation. We know 62 per cent of Calgarians have experienced family violence or know someone who has been abused, however, half of these people never seek help.

Given its prevalence and the devastating impact family violence and abuse has on our community, why doesn’t this conversation happen between friends, with your family doctor, boss, or sibling? Why aren’t Calgarians talking about how to end the most widespread social issue facing our community today?

Family violence happens in every district of Calgary and consumes significant community resources on a daily basis. It affects our children, neighbourhoods and work places, and is a community issue that can only be solved if everyone gets involved and takes a stand.

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