New Westminster police are inviting everyone to join in a vigil to raise awareness about domestic violence.
The Purple Light Nights vigil is set for Monday, April 17 at 5:30 p.m. on the steps at New Westminster City Hall. Everyone is invited to attend.
“The purple lights campaign aims to raise awareness and start a conversation about domestic violence in our community. The colour purple is recognized as the international colour symbolic of domestic violence,” a New Westminster Police Department post explains.
NWPD officers will also wear purple shoulder flashes for Prevention of Violence Against Women Women Week, April 16 to 22.
“We would like to encourage all residents to take a few minutes to affix a purple light to their home or workplace, to shine more light on the need to stop domestic violence,” the post notes.
The NWPD created its domestic violence response team in 1996. The team pairs a detective with a community counsellor to carry out specialized followup on cases of domestic violence, partnering with Family Services of Greater Vancouver.
The team serves survivors and children who are in highest-risk domestic violence situations.
The NWPD’s special investigations unit offers safety planning, coordination with community partners, heightened police awareness and response, and confidentiality with outreach workers.
Learn more and get help with domestic violence: Resources
The NWPD suggests these resources to help:
- Canadian Women's Foundation: Get the facts about gender-based violence in Canada.
- Staying safe: Three ways to keep yourself safe when you're not ready to leave your abusive partner
- QMUNITY: Support for LGBTQ people experiencing relationship abuse
- Government of Canada: Get help with relationship violence
Follow Julie MacLellan on Twitter @juliemaclellan.
Email Julie, [email protected]
