Renewing Resources
The Renewing Resources for Safer Communities Project is an innovative partnership between the anti-violence sector and the resource sector (particularly forestry and mining) that aims to improve the resource sector’s capacity to respond to violence in relationships.
EVA BC and the Ending Relationship Abuse Society (ERA) have come together to manage this 1-year violence prevention project, working in partnership with WorkSafe BC, the BC Federation of Labour and the United Steelworkers Union.
What is unique about this project is the focus on the resource industries and the partnerships with labour. While violence in relationships is not necessarily more common in these industries, project organizers chose to focus on them for two reasons:
- Including the needs of rural and isolated communities is important and these industries are major employers in rural and isolated communities.
- Involving men in speaking up about the issue of relationship violence is critical to creating safer and healthier communities, and these industries are operated by a predominantly male work force.
The action plan of the Renewing Resources for Safer Communities Project includes hosting free training sessions around the province in key areas identified by forestry and mining personnel. At these sessions, participants will learn what exactly defines “violence in relationships” as well as what constitutes an appropriate response from a corporate, union and individual perspective. They will also receive a Tool Kit on CD to assist with proactive prevention strategies, including a draft policy. The vision of this initiative is to reduce violence and to assist employers to develop skills and knowledge to respond. At the end of it all, we hope to make our communities a safe place to work and live.
Part of the Renewing Resources project is the film Men Speak Up, Ending Violence Together.
For further information and registration details, contact Sandra Beggs (250-559-8831 or 604-315-1134; sandra (at) qcislands.net or renewing (at) qcislands.net) or Habiba Rashid (604-633-2506 ext 10).
References
Klie, S. (2008, April 7). HR Canadian Reporter. Retrieved April 2008, 22, from HRReporter: http://www.hrreporter.com/loginarea/members/viewing.asp?ArticleNo=5966
A Ministry of Housing and Social Development Partners in Prevention Project.
