We are here to help

If you or someone you know is experiencing family violence, or if you are concerned about your behaviour, please call 780-464-4044 or come into Family and Community Services, no appointment needed.  

Recognizing family violence

Family violence is not always visible, and recognizing the signs is key to keeping ourselves, our friends and our family safe. Patterns of abuse may include: 

• Physical conflict - Grabbing, shaking, hitting, threatening gestures, blocking doorways, etc. 
• Emotional abuse - Threatening self-harm, invalidating feelings, etc.
• Psychological manipulation - Behaving different in public (“putting on a good show”), gaslighting, etc. 
• Degrading language or insults - Shouting, screaming, insulting, putting down, etc.
• Financial control - Withholding financial information, belittling a partner's financial contributions, etc.
• Sexual abuse - Ignoring/not asking for consent, threatening to have an affair, etc.
• Stalking - Following, showing up uninvited, sending unwanted text messages, etc. 
• Involving children through manipulation - Threatening to harm children, threatening to take or withhold children, etc.
• Pets and property - Threatening to take or harm pets, throwing things, punching walls or breaking furniture, etc.
• Isolation from friends and family - Being prevented from working or seeing friends and family, fighting before seeing friends and family, etc.

Signs of a healthy relationship

A strong, healthy relationship is vital to navigating challenges, life stressors and conflict. They prevent family violence because they are built on a foundation of trust and mutual respect and safety. Here are five signs of a healthy relationship:

• You are yourself when you are with this person.
• You feel honest with yourself and the other person.
• When you are with and talk to this person, you feel safe, supported and excited.
• You respect and trust one another.
• You feel the other person gives as much as you give to him/her.