Ending violence was the theme of a conference in Okotoks last week.
More than 100 people from around central and southern Alberta came out to the first Strong Voices Together conference on May 12, held by the Town of Okotoks Family and Community Support Services (FCSS), Rowan House Emergency Shelter and Foothills Victim Services.
The conference featured a number of keynote speakers, including Tad Milmine, Calgary police officer and director of Bullying Ends Here, and representatives from Calgary Catholic Family Services and the Alberta Council of Women’s Shelters.
“It’s about how do we shift our own language, because men do what they think they’re supposed to do, and women often enforce that gender role,” said Okotoks community wellness manager Debbie Posey. “It’s how we can all take a leadership role in changing, shifting the culture, shifting the way we talk.”
She said the conference had a good turnout for its first year, which is indicative of the importance in having conversations around ending violence of all kinds.
Kerri Wilkinson, executive director of Foothills Victims Services, agreed. She said the speakers were well-received and delivered a very important collective message.
“To me it just all tied together to say it’s not a women’s issue, it’s not a men’s issue, it’s our issue,” said Wilkinson. “And we need to look at things from a broader perspective and also look at where does this behaviour start?”
She said it’s important to address how men are involved with violence issues, both as victims and as offenders, and learn how to looks at things differently.
Wilkinson said it’s the first time the three agencies have worked together to produce an event, and she hopes it’s not the last.
“It’s like to see it become annual,” she said. “We all bring a little bit of a different perspective to the table, and I just think it’s really good to show they’re all connected.”
It’s also good for the rural community, she said, because most conferences of this type tend to take place in larger centres rather than smaller municipalities. People who live in rural communities need the same level of awareness, she said.
“This is one way we can bring these things together and show everyone the changes we can make and our service delivery, as well as educating our populations,” said Wilkinson.
