Her last name might be Green, but these days she's all about going purple, to show that domestic violence has no place in her community.
Local business owner Leona Green is participating in the Purple Light Nights campaign, where local businesses and residents buy purple lights to hang in their windows to raise awareness about the thousands of women and children who endure the horrors of abuse.
"I think it would be cool if the all of New West was purple," said Green, who owns Greens and Beans Deli on East Columbia Street.
"The goal of the project is to have as many business owners and residents buy a string of lights to hang on their doors and businesses to send a message and develop public awareness on domestic violence and building on healthy relationships," Jodi Sturge, with the Elizabeth Fry Society, told The Record.
The project is also supported by the Department of Justice Canada, EFry and New Westminster's community coordination for women's safety.
In 2011, police reported about 78,000 incidents of violence against women by current or previous intimate partners, including those by spouses (common-law and legally married partners) and dating partners, according to Statistics Canada.
The overall rate of intimate partner violence against women was 542 per 100,000 women, almost four times higher than the rate for men, according to the stats.
The annual Purple Lights Campaign - this is the third year it's being held in New Westminster - aligns with Prevention of Violence Against Women Week and Victims of Crime Awareness Week, April 15 to 28. There will be a candlelight vigil at New Westminster's city hall on April 15 at 7 p.m.
The Covington Domestic Violence Task Force in King County, Wash. came up with the Purple Light Nights idea. Purple is the symbolic color of domestic violence.
Strings of purple lights can be bought for $20 and bulbs can be purchased for $5 at the Elizabeth Fry Society, 402 East Columbia St. Visit www.facebook.com/ purplelightnights or email purplelights [email protected].
