November is Family Violence Prevention Month in Alberta.

On Tuesday, Nov. 15, the college hosted booths from the YWCA Lethbridge, Lethbridge Family Services, Domestic Violence Action Team, and Lethbridge Regional Police Service Domestic Crimes Unit to Victim Services.

Family Violence Month was started back in 1986 to raise awareness and prevent family violence. It was started in Hinton. The town’s effort inspired the Alberta legislature to support this cause. Today, many people and communities in Alberta are involved in increasing knowledge and preventing family violence.

The college’s booths gained interest among students, staff and faculty. Personal counsellors from the college used computer games to interact with passing by spectators. The games asked questions about family violence and then provided feedback after the responses.

Raising awareness was the main goal of the college and they feel they succeeded. It is a tough subject to come out about but it is important that everybody knows there is help for them. People should not feel they have to be silent about the issue.

“Knowledge and information to bring awareness and help others recognize that family violence is not OK,” said Judy Frank, from Counselling Services at Lethbridge College.

The government of Alberta is also trying to get men and boys to participate in the prevention of family violence. The Alberta Council of Women’s Shelters has been given $150,000 from Alberta’s Civil Forfeiture Office to develop and put into action their Taking a Stand project. The project will be used to educate about gender-based discrimination and violence. The hope is that added knowledge will diminish attitudes that add to violence against women.

The province with the highest number of cases of spousal violence is Alberta. Even though it is the highest, only 28 per cent is reported to the police.

There is a 24-hour family violence information line at (403) 310-1818. Also visit www.familyviolence.alberta.ca for more information.