The Fernie Women’s Resource Centre will be hosting several off site workshops throughout January aimed to explore the impacts that control and abuse have on the friends and family of an individual in an abusive relationship.
“We hope that by familiarizing friends and family members with the services available we will be better able to support women in challenging situations,” Kat Boag-Munroe, counsellor with the Fernie Women’s Resource Centre said. “Abuse is such a taboo topic in many circles and we’re trying to break that silence. It’s something we all need to be talking about.”
She added, “We need to be talking about it to be able to support people that are in those situations.”
The workshops are open to everyone, whether the information is personally relevant or if an individual is just looking for more information.
Boag-Munroe noted that although they are encouraging individuals not to openly share during the workshop for confidentiality reasons, there will be opportunities to connect with Fernie Women’s Resource Centre staff members should they wish to discuss a situation in confidence.
The workshops will take place at the Elkford Public Library from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. on Thursday, January 15 and at the College of the Rockies Fernie campus from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on January 29.
Both workshops are free of charge.
“If we can be having these conversations about abuse as a community, we can all be in a better position to help,” Boag-Munroe noted.
For more information, contact the Women’s Centre at 250-423-4687 or via their website at ferniewomenscentre.com.
The Women’s Resource Centre, located at 1592 10th Ave. provides information and support and can act as a liaison on your behalf when dealing with the system. Further support includes assisting in tracking down furniture and exploring housing options. The centre provides free counselling services to women over 19 through the Stopping the Violence program. Young women are also encouraged to take part in the Fernie Women’s Resource Centre’s Girls’ Outdoor Adventure Leadership program, a program that works to empower girls from Grade 7 to Grade 12 through outdoor challenges, facilitation opportunities and creative self-expression.