Ending Violence Association of British Columbia

Melissa Chatham, a 24 year old young woman from Delta, BC, was tragically taken from her family and friends on Sunday September 21, 2008 in an act of violence. Melissa was a strong and beautiful young woman who was about to return to University and was taking many positive steps to gain control of her life, when it was taken from her.

Tragically, Melissa's family is not alone in having experienced such a devastating loss. Violence against women continues to pose enormous threats to the safety of women across Canada and in BC.

The Chatham family has set up a memorial fund in honor of Melissa's life through the Ending Violence Association of British Columbia (EVA BC). The intention of the fund is to benefit other young women dealing with the devastating impacts of relationship violence across BC.

Donations to the Melissa Chatham Memorial Fund can be made online:

or by mailing a cheque, made payable to "EVA BC", to:
728-602 West Hastings Street
Vancouver, BC V6B 1P2.

An official charitable receipt will be issued for all donations received.

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.

EVA BC and CCWS have worked with the RCMP, municipal police and the Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General to find ways that victims can get information to police without having to engage with the justice system. RCMP and municipal police in BC have now adopted a provincial protocol for third party reporting.

Download background document on Third Party Reporting (pdf)

Download Third Party Reporting Info Sheets (pdf)

A project coordinated by the Ministry of Women's Equality to create counselling practice guidelines to enhance the work of program practitioners. Steering Committee representation from EVA BC as well as counsellors in STV programs housed in Specialized Victim Assistance Programs, Women's Centres and Transition Houses.

An initiative coordinated by the Ministry of Skills and Training, to fund and develop programs and policies throughout university and college campuses to better insure issues of safety, accessibility and equality. EVA BC played a key role advising this Committee of issues related to violence against women and also advised on proposed policy and program appropriateness to those affected.

A project taken on by EVA BC in partnership with the BC/Yukon Society of Transition Houses to develop tools and plans to assist the organizational needs of women serving and victim serving organizations in the area of human resources, labour relations, management coaching and organizational growth and change.

An initiative taken on and coordinated by EVA BC, in partnership with the BC/Yukon Society of Transition Houses, to develop a paper for the Transition Commissioner regarding possible options for shifting the social service delivery system as it relates to services to children within women's services.

An initiative by EVA BC in partnership with the BC Women's Hospital to develop analysis and a provincial proposal for the introduction of nurse examiners in hospitals throughout BC to conduct sexual assault medical and forensic examinations.

An EVA BC initiative to pay tribute to work being done by organizations, individuals and businesses across BC to prevent violence against women. We subsequently established a partnership with the Ministry of Women's Equality and the BC/Yukon Society of Transition Houses to push ahead with this project designed to encourage, recognize and honour the outstanding work being done across BC in building a safer future for women and a violence free society. There are 4 categories: individual, partnership, organization and corporate.

EVA BC has worked to establish processes to reduce the burden on anti-violence programs associated with the accreditation process and to provide support through the process. We were able to secure funds through the Multi-Lateral Task Force from the Ministry of Advanced Education and the Ministry of Women's Equality (now MCAWS) to create program supports.