Four hundred and eighteen

Mission

2024-10-11 14:00 PDT

Photo of purple lights outside the Mission RCMP detachment.

Click here for large photo of purple lights outside the Mission RCMP detachment.

Four hundred and eighteen: that is the number of calls that Mission RCMP responded to last year where there was a report of intimate partner violence – also known as domestic violence.

Not every call involved physical violence – it could have been a heated argument escalating quickly, someone harassing their former partner by continually messaging them, or someone making threats to their partner. However, many other intimate partner violence calls to police were the result of serious physical assaults – and keep in mind that four hundred and eighteen only represents the number of incidents that were actually reported. How many more went unreported?

Regardless of the specifics, all of these calls had one thing in common – two people, in a current or past intimate relationship, were in a serious conflict where someone got hurt, felt unsafe, or just needed help. These types of situations happen daily in our communities, and is one of the reasons behind the Purple Lights Campaign, which strives to raise awareness about intimate partner violence by bringing people together, offering support, and hanging purple lights at various locations around town to help make people more aware of the issue.

This year’s Purple Lights Campaign kicked off with events this past weekend at Oxygen Yoga and the Mission Friendship Centre. The campaign continues at the Mission City Farmer’s Market at Centennial Park on October 19 from 10am-2pm, and wraps up with a community walk on October 26, from 10am-12pm, starting at the SARA for Women office, at 33070 5th Avenue.

Stephanie Atzinger is the Victim Services Coordinator for Mission RCMP, and is also involved with the Purple Lights Campaign: I have worked with Victim Services for over five years, and intimate partner violence is an ongoing issue that so many people face in our communities. We work closely with people who are going through these situations, to support them, and to help them know that they are not alone.

Important information about intimate partner violence:

Don’t wait for things to get violent. If you need help, call police;
If it’s happened before, it’s likely to happen again. Intimate partner violence offenders can be very good at apologizing, making excuses for their behaviour, and assuring you they’ve changed. Know that if it happened once, there’s an increased likelihood that it will happen again;
Don’t blame yourself. It’s common for people involved in intimate partner violence to think they are somehow responsible. No one deserves to be or feel unsafe regardless of the situation;
Fear is one of the biggest factors in intimate partner violence situations. Whether your partner threatens to physically hurt you, or demonstrates other controlling behaviour – such as withholding finances, threatening to take custody of children, or just makes you feel like you have no option but to stay – that type of fear-based behaviour is not acceptable and is a common aspect of partner violence. Tell police about your concerns, and we can help you find a way out;
Some people don’t call police because they don’t want their partner to get arrested. Others may not call because they don’t think anything will change. Although each situation is different, talk to us, tell us about your concerns, and we’ll help you understand what can be done;
You can also speak with Victim Services directly. If you are not in immediate danger, and you’re not yet ready to make a report to police, call Victim Services in order to learn more about the options available to you. They are very good listeners!;
No level of hurt is okay. Every relationship is going to have some conflict from time-to-time, but if the conflict in your relationship is to the point where you are fearful, where you feel you can’t leave, or where you have been physically hurt, know that those things are not normal, and are not okay.

Most importantly – know that you are not alone, and there are options. Just remember, there are many other people in your community who are experiencing the same things you are. Call 911 if you’re in immediate danger, call Mission RCMP’s non-emergency line (604-826-7161) if you want to make a report about something in the past (there are no time limitations for reporting intimate partner violence), or call Victim Services (604-820-3504) to get information about support services that can help.

If you witness intimate partner violence, or you have concerns about a friend, co-worker, or family member, please also call police. Let our strength as a community give strength to those who need it most, let our voices together give a voice to those who need it the most, and let us be steadfast in believing that no amount of violence in any relationship is okay. Together, we can help end the cycle of violence.