Healthy communities begin with healthy relationships. On November 19, a community event will bring together service agencies, researchers, youth and members of the public to discuss how to build those healthy relationships, and how to end those that aren’t.
"We really want to engage the local community and encourage community leaders to join hands with us to change society's attitude towards violence in relationships. We want the community to stand up and say: this is not okay. This is the first of many events that will be held in the upcoming year to start a community movement," said Dr. Balbir Gurm, facilitator of Kwantlen Polytechnic University's (KPU) Network to Eliminate Violence in Relationships (NEVR).
The Healthy Relationships fundraising dinner will be hosted in Surrey by NEVR – a community action group that works toward eliminating violence in relationships throughout the Lower Mainland.
Emceed by Pamela Martin, the evening will offer guests more than just dinner, including a play on the abuse cycle process; resource tables that feature local services, and; local initiatives around recognizing abuse. The latter includes a training toolkit for stylists and bartenders on how to identify domestic violence, along with material on the services available. Training is offered for free by KPU.
The winners of the Healthy Relationship Contest will also be showcased. Open to students grades 5-12, the art and essay contest encouraged students to define, through either medium, the characteristics of healthy and safe relationships.
For more information about NEVR and the event on Nov. 19, visit kpu.ca/NEVR. To purchase a ticket to the event (which starts at 6 p.m. at the Grand Taj Banquet Hall – 8388 128 St. Surrey) email balbir.gurm@kpu.ca.
