Alberta has the highest reported rate of spousal abuse of all provinces in Canada.
Hoping to bring attention to this fact, Alberta has named November Family Violence Prevention Month.
Family violence happens when a family member tries to control another person by using threats, intimidation or emotional, physical, psychological, spiritual, financial or sexual abuse.
According to the Canadian Centre for Justice Statistics, 2002, nearly one-quarter of all violent crimes in Canada are committed by a family member of the victim.
The pinnacle of these violent acts in the family is murder.
According to a 2002 study by Stats Canada and the Canadian Centre for Justice Studies, marital separation is a factor that elevates the rate of spousal homicide for women but not for men.
Between 1991 and 1999, 39 women per million couples were killed by estranged husbands compared to a rate of five per million killed by current husbands.
It appears that separation alone does not solve the problem of violent relationships. A full 37 per cent of men and women from former violent relationships reported a continuance of violence after separation.
Aboriginal women face an even darker reality.
Rates of spousal homicide among Aboriginal women were more than eight times higher than for non-Aboriginal women at 47 per million couples compared to six per million.
Aboriginal men had rates of spousal homicide 18 times higher than non-Aboriginal men at 28 per million couples compared to two per million. In 2006, Alberta amended the PAFVA (Protection against family violence act) to include stalking and emergency protection orders. It also includes provisions for dealing with the growing trend of violence against seniors, a disturbing trend that some say was predictable with a growing senior’s population.
If there is a positive side, the study suggests that spousal abuse rates declined between 1993 and 1999, while social services and police intervention reported an upward trend.
In other words, education and awareness play a large part in the eradication of this social blight.
If you are involved in a violent relationship, or know someone who is, get help.
Let someone know.
Break the cycle of violence.

Copyright © 2000 The Lakeside Leader. All Rights Reserved.
No part may be reproduced without written permission.

View our Privacy Statement.
Send website suggestions to the Webmaster