YWCA plans for a Week Without Violence

By Ry Clarke - Lethbridge Herald Local Journalism Initiative Reporter on October 19, 2022.

Herald photo by Ry Clarke Natasha Birnie-Browne with the YWCA draws messages in chalk on the sidewalk advocating awareness for Week Without Violence Tuesday along 5 Street and 4 Avenue South downtown.

The YWCA began its Week Without Violence on Monday, a week-long series of community events promoting diverse approaches to creating a violence-free world. This year the YWCA Lethbridge and District will focus on the theme of ‘Forget Me Not’, focusing on spreading awareness to groups that sometimes get forgotten when it comes to violence and abuse.

“Our theme is focused on seniors, pets, men, LGBTQ, and all those communities that get forgotten quite a bit when it comes to family violence. They are still victims, and they don’t have the same media attention as women and children do. It doesn’t take away from one or the other, we just feel like there is less programming and resources that are accessible for people in those positions,” said Cat Champagne, external relations director for YWCA Lethbridge. “We just want to remind people that they are still out there, and they do need support. There are ways to help people that are in those categories that are also dealing with violence.”

As a whole, the Week Without Violence focuses on raising awareness, promoting attitude change, and enabling individuals and organizations to begin positive actions towards ending violence in their communities.

“It is a week-long series of events in different communities,” said Champagne. “Being those catalysts for change, by learning about things, being involved, and understanding that there is violence in their community, but the ways that they can help with that. Whether it’s to support people that are dealing with violence, or to be more aware of what violence looks like when it comes to being a bystander.”

On Thursday the YWCA will host a webinar on Elder Abuse, sign up is available through the YWCA Lethbridge & District Facebook page under events.

Then there will be the Take Back the Night walk, going from City Hall to the YWCA on Friday at 6:30 p.m.

“We will do a short presentation at six, then what we do is a walk through downtown, showing that we are all together in this, we are supporting each other,” said Champagne. “It goes along with women being able to walk on their own and not feel threatened, taking back the availability to feel comfortable and safe at night. The whole piece is getting a community out to show and walk in support of the YWCA and support women in violence.”

Working towards a peaceful future the week will shed light on the violence we see in our world today and how we can do more to end it.

“Violence is everywhere, it’s a global concern. There is a ton of amazing work being done right now, but we know that not all violence is acknowledged to or responded equally,” said Champagne. “We need to make sure that we go out and provide support and information on demographics that get forgotten, to make sure that everyone has a voice no matter where they are coming from.”

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